Comcast: We Weren't Involved In Olbermann Decision

[sabra]

Source: Broadcasting & Cable

Comcast says it had no role in the suspension or reinstatement of MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann.

Some speculation had been swirling over the weekend that Comcast, whose executives have been working with NBCU in anticipation of integrating the two companies' operations if, as they expect, the FCC and Justice approve their $30 billion joint venture, might have had some influence on the decision.

Olbermann was suspended last week after donating to Democratic candidates apparently in violation of company policy. He is being reinstated as of Tuesday.

"Comcast is not in any way involved with decisions made currently by NBC News," the company said in a statement. "We have pledged that when the transaction is concluded, Comcast will abide by the same policies for NBC's news and public affairs programming that have been in place since GE acquired the company in 1986. Comcast is committed to the independence of NBC's news operations."

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/459605-Comcast_We_Weren_t_Involved_In_Olbermann_Decision.php

[Melinda]

1. Struck a nerve, did we?

Priceless
:fistbump:

[emulatorloo]

2. Or maybe they weren't involved?

EOM

[RamboLiberal]

3. Maybe - but that they are even commenting means

We struck a nerve!

[Melinda]

5. Yeah!!

GMTA and all that.... stuff. ;)

[emulatorloo]

8. True. N/T

[Melinda]

4. Whooooooooooshhhhhhhhh.

:eyes:

[emulatorloo]

9. I think Comcast made you put up that EyeRolling Smilie

:toast:

ON EDIT: Olbermann back on Tuesday night:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9512206

[Winterblues]

17. Maybe the Republicans will save America from the Evil Democrats also...

:shrug:

[Jackpine Radical]

6. "Who will rid me of this meddlesome Liberal?"

[monmouth]

7. Where was Jack Welch when this crime was committed????...n/t

[emulatorloo]

10. DU Thread: Olbermann back on Tuesday night. YEA!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9512206

[earcandle]

11. Quick response! They know we are watching.

[glinda]

20. Sign the petition to stop the merger is what it is! Sign here:

http://act2.freepress.net/letter/comcast/

[CLANG]

12. Protesteth too much?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Well, gee, if they say it, it must be true.

:eyes:

[activa8tr]

22. RIGHT!!! We must always trust our big corporations to tell us the

facts, right???

:sarcasm:

Comcast is the new BP!

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. Poor li'l ol' COmcast **sniff**shiff**

Quick step back from being associated with this MSNBC crap against KO...same ol', same ol' ...corporate politics and being on record.
Am sure Comcast has much invested in federal lobbying...don't want their politicos in office shunning them at this date so close to closing the deal :eyes:

[Frances]

15. My experience with Comcast is so bad

that I told my husband NEVER AGAIN

I hope everyone goes to streaming and that Comcast goes out of business

[YankeeLeft7x]

16. Got Rid of Comcast

Comcast service is terrible since it's all digital now....We now have Direct TV and have not had one problem, yet, anyhow.

[katty]

18. Wow the suits actually needed to PR this one-good, at least

they sensed the need to speak to their audience-generally it is a F/U to everyone.

[sally cat]

19. Ha! They took the bait! Would they deny it if they weren't guilty?

[blackspade]

21. Yeah, right....

Comcast just so happens to be owned by some right wing nut job and a liberal commentator gets 'suspended'.
No coincidence here, move along....

[EFerrari]

23. It's always nice to get the Official Denial.

:)

[onenote]

24. Comcast is not "owned" by some rightwing nutjob.

Presumably you are referring to Ed Snider who, despite some BS stories circulating around the web, is not the owner of Comcast, or its CEO or even a major investor. He is the CEO of a company in which Comcast happens to own a 60 percent stake -- one of a bunch of companies that Comcast has invested in. He isn't on the Comcast board, he's not a Comcast executive.

On the other hand, the individuals that actually are in charge of Comcast, such as Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, his father, the Chairman Emeritus Ralph Roberts, and Exec. VP David Cohen, are all major Democratic party donors. Cohen alone gave over $80,000 to Democratic candidates and party organizations in just the last election cycle. Compare that to Snider, who has give less than $60K to repubs in the past 20 years.

As I've said numerous times -- there are plenty of actual, fact-based reasons to challenge the Comcast/NBCU merger -- the claim that the company is "owned" by a rw repub is not one of them since its not true.

[blackspade]

25. Thanks for the correction!

Good to know about Comcast in general, although their continued opposition to net-neutrality is shady.

Another Ed Snider gem via Wikipedia:

In 1985, Snider was one of the founding contributors of the Ayn Rand Institute, which was established by the philosopher Leonard Peikoff to promote the advancement of Objectivism. In 1990, after the Peikoff-Kelley split (see Objectivist Movement), Snider became a backer of the rival organization now known as The Atlas Society.

[onenote]

27. i am not defending and will not defend Comcast's customer service, or the proposed merger, etc.

But if we're going to challenge them, let's do it on the facts, not on made up stuff than anyone can easily rebut, thereby undermining the credibility of our good arguments.

[rocktivity]

26. Not even their decision to reverse their decision

so that it wouldn't even LOOK like it was their decision?

P.S. Keith works for MSNBC, not NBC. MSNBC does not have a donations policy, which is why Keith didn't know anything about NBC's--and why MSNBC head Peter Griffin has offered him a full apology.

:headbang:
rocktivity