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FCC Approves NBC/Comcast Merger

e-dawg said:
So far I know that Comcast and NBC Owned and Operated TV stations are in these markets.
WMAQ NBC 5 Chicago
WCAU NBC 10 Philadelphia
KNTV NBC 11 San Francisco
WRC NBC 4 Washington
WTVJ NBC 6 Miami
WVIT NBC 30 Hartford

WIll they have to divest these station because of Comcast?
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It doesn't appear that the FCC imposed any conditions that Comcast divest these stations. Even if the FCC did or if the idea comes across that NBC should sell them, I doubt there would be many takers. I can't see many parties interested in spending serious money on a TV station that might have had a successful history, but an uncertain future, with or without NBC content. I think Comcast will have to essentially keep the stations.
 
The ownership rules seem to be written about broadcasting, not about media in general. So I'm not surprised the FCC didn't impose any conditions here. Yet when they ruled on the Sirius-XM merger, they viewed the entire media marketplace in justifying their decision. On the surface, an obvious contradiction. At some point, I imagine clarification will be needed.
 
NoWayNoCC said:
DToTheJ said:
Comcast is chomping at the bit to complete its acquisition of the Peacock... and nothing is standing in their way now...

More info:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954004576090121707066828.html
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Actually, there is something standing in the way: the states.

America has 50 states, and I have a right to expect at least one to take action against this merger.
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Maybe I'm missing something, but I thought the merger of publicly-traded companies was regulated at the federal level, not the state level. I don't think any state has a say-so here, and if they did, their concerns would have been addressed by the DOJ and/or SEC.

I think it's up to the stockholders of both companies now, if they haven't approved it already.
 
justpassingthough said:
KeithE4 said:
TheBigA said:
I also expect that Comcast will sell off a lot of aspects of the company that don't matter. (beyond the things required) Including perhaps the TV stations. Maybe even the TV network. Maybe the theme parks. Just because they bought it doesn't mean they're going to keep it intact.
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I think that they will either spin off or shut down NBC and Telemundo (shutting down the former and spinning off the latter is a more likely scenario) in the next 5 years. Why keep an antiquated, money-losing program delivery method like a broadcast television network? As the interwebs get more able to handle such traffic, things like Hulu will be even more practical. NBC was smart to get involved in that.
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I don't think that NBC will be 'shut down' in the traditional sense, but I think it will migrate over to cable and become the first network convert into a cable channel. I think, in turn, the local affiliates (any O&Os anyway) will be sold off and allowed to become independents. With the country's largest MSO on your side, it only makes sense to head this direction and focus on new platforms for distribution like the aforementioned Hulu.
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If Comcast converts NBC to a cable network, I'm looking for the biggest bunch of affiliate switches since the '90s. Consider some of the possibilities: ABC moving from WOLO to WIS in Columbia, SC; ABC from WXLV to WXII in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point; CBS from WKMG to WESH in Orlando; ABC from WGNO to WDSU in New Orleans. Speculation, of course, but don't think ABC, CBS, and Fox wouldn't be looking to upgrade themselves where they're weak now.
 
KeithE4 said:
NoWayNoCC said:
DToTheJ said:
Comcast is chomping at the bit to complete its acquisition of the Peacock... and nothing is standing in their way now...

More info:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954004576090121707066828.html
Click to expand...

Actually, there is something standing in the way: the states.

America has 50 states, and I have a right to expect at least one to take action against this merger.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm missing something, but I thought the merger of publicly-traded companies was regulated at the federal level, not the state level. I don't think any state has a say-so here, and if they did, their concerns would have been addressed by the DOJ and/or SEC.

I think it's up to the stockholders of both companies now, if they haven't approved it already.
Click to expand...

Correct, the regulation of interstate commerce is something handled by the federal government per the Constitution (just in case anyone wants to jump on the idea that this is somehow the fault of Bill Clinton, George W Bush, or President Obama).
 
Even if the states' hands are tied by some ridiculous court ruling, is there even ONE person who thinks the merger is a good idea?

So much for the will of the people.
 
NoWayNoCC said:
Even if the states' hands are tied by some ridiculous court ruling, is there even ONE person who thinks the merger is a good idea?

So much for the will of the people.
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Even if there isn't ONE person who thinks its a good idea, we live in a representative democracy, so it doesn't matter what WE think. It only matters on how our elected officials rule and who they appoint to the various agencies that govern these issues. Which makes it sad that some people think they're vote, come election day, doesn't count.

Again, blame Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers. If it wasn't for them, we could all have a vote on EVERY single issue that came before this democracy. That would work so much better than the existing system. No gridlock or partisianship there.

To get back on topic, though, as someone pointed out, both parties seem to be willing to turn over more and more media ownership to fewer and fewer corporations. Maybe not ALL government intervention is bad.
 
NoWayNoCC said:
Even if the states' hands are tied by some ridiculous court ruling, is there even ONE person who thinks the merger is a good idea?
Click to expand...

Yes, and far more than one person. A majority of the stockholders of General Electric and Comcast think it's a good idea.

So much for the will of the people.
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It's the will of the stockholders (aka "the owners of the company") that count. In the case of publicly-traded companies, they have to get permission from those who are paid by We The People to do this, and that permission was given. That's all that's necessary. It's a done deal.
 
KTU_Fan said:
It's the fault of Bill Clinton, George W Bush, or President Obama!!!! :)
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I'll throw in Dick Cheney, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi for good measure. I blame all of 'em! ;D
 
NoWayNoCC said:
The states need to say Comcast can't run any cable systems in their states then.
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What gives the states that authority? IIRC, cable franchises are granted at the local (city or county) level, or by a private agreement with, say, a condo or apartment complex.
 
What makes you think states would feel differently than the feds? And what legal grounds would they use to stop Comcast?
 
NoWayNoCC said:
Tenth Amendment, folks, Tenth Amendment.
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Article 8 gives Congress the power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." The 10th Amendment doesn't apply here. Congress makes the laws that define the duties of the federal agencies, including the ones that approved this merger.
 
But once again, what motivation does a state have to override this decision? Comcast employs lots of local people. They do lots of local charity work. They seem like the kind of company a state or local government would want to help, not hurt. It's not the job of local governments to hurt or restrict local business. They have departments that give all kinds of tax breaks to ENCOURAGE this kind of thing.
 
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