Comcast buys 51% of NBC

[bkfount]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

What has Comcast done to earn an 'evil empire' moniker?

They're well known for horrible customer support. They also charge more for HD, while they lower the quality of the content to save money, only to claim they have more HD content than other providers. On the internet side, they're pretty opposed to net neutrality.

a nice list..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast#Controversies

[Burns11]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

As I understand it...

Now that NBC has been bought it is not on standard cable (So it is CBS, ABC, FOX, PBS) and what is going to happen is eventually those networks will follow in selling out to stay competitive with NBC.

I don't believe this is true, it was part of that segment because of it's broadcast nature, unless they kill off all their affiliates and dump the over the air broadcasts I don't think this can legally happen.

[bkfount]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Someone clear this up for me but did Comcast buy NBC Universal? or just NBC? There's a distinction between the two and I can see Comcast having more then enough money to buy NBC as a single entity. I did read that Comcast wanted to merge with the entire NBC Universal conglomeration of networks and other properties so I don't know what this is.

Comcast is getting a 51% stake in NBC Universal for cash and their cable networks which will merge under NBC Universal. GE will still own the rest, but is expected to ease out over a few years, giving Comcast the whole NBC Universal company.

Comcast wouldn't be able to mess with NBC's broadcast network much, other than moving shows to their cable channels. People are just worried that this may jack cable/dish bills up because Comcast has the ability to rape competitors with more valuable channels now.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Does this include NBC's stake in hulu? I guess the subscription plans will be coming pretty soon.

[Sandman42]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Does this include NBC's stake in hulu? I guess the subscription plans will be coming pretty soon.

FWIW

We think that going forward, you're going to continue to have free broadcast stuff on Hulu, and cable stuff on TV Everywhere." As for rumors of Hulu Premium? "That's certainly not in the cards."

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/c...h-hulu-like-a/

[bkfount]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Does this include NBC's stake in hulu? I guess the subscription plans will be coming pretty soon.

they were coming eventually anyways. Hulu doesn't make as much money the companies want, since they can't charge enough for the few ad spaces. News Corp (FOX) already said they plan to charge for their content on Hulu in 2010. Only a matter of time until the rest follow.

[SPTO]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Comcast is getting a 51% stake in NBC Universal for cash and their cable networks which will merge under NBC Universal. GE will still own the rest, but is expected to ease out over a few years, giving Comcast the whole NBC Universal company.

Comcast wouldn't be able to mess with NBC's broadcast network much, other than moving shows to their cable channels. People are just worried that this may jack cable/dish bills up because Comcast has the ability to rape competitors with more valuable channels now.

Thanks, that's going to be HUGE for Comcast in terms of content and flexibility down the road. I've heard rumors that Microsoft wants to back out of any affiliation with MSNBC so this merger will hasten that if it's true.

You're quite right about NBC as a network though. I neglected to mention on the affiliate stations. They'd be left in the lurch if the actual network went straight to premium cable.

[kcxiv]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

they were coming eventually anyways. Hulu doesn't make as much money the companies want, since they can't charge enough for the few ad spaces. News Corp (FOX) already said they plan to charge for their content on Hulu in 2010. Only a matter of time until the rest follow.

They just keep forcing the rest of the world to use torrents. Keep doing it. I wont fee guilty using eztv.it.

[CMH]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

NBC Universal was only a subsidiary of GE, which is the world's largest corporation. Comcast is huge, although a cheap *** company with horrible customer ratings. They were hoarding money to make a big splash for years, and actually tried to buy Disney a few years ago for like $55 billion.

Ah, there goes my confusion. I was thinking of it the other way around and completely forgot that General Electric owns NBC (I watch enough 30 Rock that you'd think I'd remember this).

Interesting what you say later on about GE phasing out slowly so that Comcast can take over all of its properties.

Back to the Future II isn't that far off, I guess.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

As long as I get a hover board out of the deal, I'm cool with it.

[CMH]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

As long as I get a hover board out of the deal, I'm cool with it.

Just remember not to fly over water with it.

[SPTO]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Just remember not to fly over water with it.

That's only if you're using a Mattel hover board. The punks that were chasing Marty could hover over the water with theirs.

(Sheesh, how do I remember minor details like that?!)

[CMH]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Data: Hey McFly, you bozo, those boards don't work on water!
Whitey: Unless you've got POWER!

I now want Comcast to release the hover board I've been waiting for and I want it to have POWER!

[Bellsprout]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Jack Donaghy: "Jerry, you're going to buy NBC? Like you've got 4 million dollars just laying around?"

That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this.

[p_rushing]

Re: Comcast buys 51% of NBC

Comcast doesn't care about the local NBCs and most likely will sell those.

What they want are the cable channels and the producing side. They now control everything that NBC Universal makes.

What will happen to the NBCs and Syfy, USA, etc?
Most likely nothing. If Comcast tries to up the rates, the FCC will have to step in and regulate Comcast. You may not get OnDemand and web offerings on other providers, but they will not be able to demand extremely high rates.

Directv has actually started to prevent this. They formed the Directv Sports network or something like that with a few of the FSNs that they bought from their parent company. Just like Comcast has Philly on lockdown, Directv is going to say fine, if you don't give us access and a fair price, you lose FSN Northwest, FSN Pittsburgh and FSN Rocky Mountain (and sub-region FSN Utah).

2010 is going to be an interesting year when all of these contracts run out. I only care about USA & Syfy remaining and at a good price.