"Comcast-NBC deal raises eyebrows; Behemoth could dominate markets" by Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff | December 4, 2009
The deal will lead to higher cable rates, while giving Comcast far too much power over what millions of Americans can or can’t see on their television sets and the Internet....
I bet that will get Americans protesting!
They will pay it, but....
Joel Kelsey of the nonprofit Consumers Union said the deal could set off a spiral of rising monthly cable bills. By federal regulation, if Comcast owns part of NBC Universal, it must pay the same rate to carry NBC Universal channels as all other cable and satellite firms. But NBC Universal could raise prices on everybody. In effect, Comcast would be paying the higher rate to itself while collecting more money from competitors. Comcast’s rivals would have to raise consumers’ monthly bills, and Kelsey predicted that Comcast would probably do the same. “There’s no competitive pressure to lower the rates,’’ he said....
Kelsey worried that Comcast could back away from free online distribution, a prospect he described as “anti-consumer.’’ Kelsey said regulators should not rely on Comcast’s promises. “I think the federal government is going to have to take a long hard look at this merger,’’ said Kelsey, “and I don’t believe blocking it should ever be taken off the table.’’
Why not? The never take force off the table when threatening people.
Of course, it is all for benign reasons -- like the lies that led us to war.
"Comcast aims to reshape market" by Associated Press | December 4, 2009
PHILADELPHIA -
Although the deal could mean that movies could reach cable more quickly after showing in theaters and that TV shows could appear faster on cellphones and other devices, it was raising concerns that
What difference does it really make?
Related: Six Jewish Companies Own 96% of the World's Media
I was wondering why they all sounded the same with the same stories.
Indeed, if the deal clears regulatory and other hurdles, Comcast would rival the heft of the
Wow. Comcast challenging the Mouse, huh?
The deal is a major turning point for Comcast, catapulting the Philadelphia-based company to a media conglomerate and above the pack of cable operators that run regional cable systems....
I'll let you know what happens.
