Comcast takes control of NBC Universal

[onehandle]

Source: AP

LOS ANGELES – The nation's largest cable TV company, Comcast Corp., took control of NBC Universal after the government shackled its behavior in the coming years to protect online video services such as Netflix and Hulu.

The deal closed shortly before midnight EST on Friday.

The takeover gave the cable-hookup company 51 percent control of NBC Universal, which owns the nation's fourth-ranked broadcaster, NBC; the Universal Pictures movie studio and related theme parks; and a bevy of cable channels including Bravo, E! and USA.

The combination had raised fears that Comcast might abuse its control of NBC Universal to favor its most valuable customers: the 23 million who rely on it for cable TV service and the 17 million who pay for Internet connections.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110129/ap_on_en_mo/us_comcast_nbc_8

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Kiss the ever expanding options for media access we were having on the Internet goodbye.

[Alexander]

1. So what is the Sheinhardt Wig Company's official position on this?

And what does NBC's Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming have to say?

[onehandle]

2. Haven't watched the episode yet, but from the article...

NBC's "30 Rock" on Thursday night spoofed Comcast's impending takeover from General Electric Co. As a clock bell sounded, a neon "GE" atop an office building fizzled out and was replaced by a "K" inside a swoosh resembling Comcast's logo.

"Wow, out with GE, in with Kabletown," said Tina Fey's character, Liz Lemon. "Seems like one of us should sing 'The Circle Game' right now."

[Alexander]

4. I just watched it. Pretty good episode but it does gloss over the merger in the first minute or so.

And yes, Kabletown's logo is nearly identical to Comcast's.

[dkofos]

3. Mega bonus's for the few, unemployment for thousands.

[pam4water]

5. Wish we has a real government that would regulate :(

[russspeakeasy]

6. Our government is real...that's the scary part.

[Alexander]

9. Teddy Roosevelt is no doubt spinning in his grave right now.

And he was a Republican.

[Odin2005]

7. ComPravda.

[Thor_MN]

8. We could hope for some truth, such as naming E! the Kardashian channel

but's that about the best that could come out of this.