Comcast buys owning share of NBC

[Last Roman]

Which in of itself isn't a shocker. Mergers and buyouts happen a lot. The merger was completed back in late January of this year. But what is, and which is basically a slap in consumer's face, is that the FCC's commissioner, Meredith Baker, who had final approval on the merger, will be stepping down from the FCC to join...Comcast.

I mean, does this seem just a little suspect to people? I mean, "yeah, sure I'll approve this merger, which will make Comcast a 30 billion dollar company. And oh, I'm going to be joining this company soon."

A little bit more on the story. Or here.

[Menelik_I]

*Wait for Corporate Murdoch, Ailes and Jewcifer conspiracies *

But what is, and which is basically a slap in consumer's face, is that the FCC's commissioner, Meredith Baker, who had final approval on the merger, will be stepping down from the FCC to join...Comcast.

Why is this a slap on the consumer's face ? It is not like people actually have the FCC in mind when they choose which TV channel or program to watch.

At best it is State of the Art lobbying and some one making millions ''solving'' thanks to unneeded red tape.
But in any case I don't blame Comcast for pulling off this one, you have to find a way to game the dumb bureaucracy.

[Last Roman]

Why is this a slap on the consumer's face ? It is not like people actually have the FCC in mind when they choose which TV channel or program to watch.

.

It's predicted prices for cable subscription will go up even higher (which are already fairly high) because comcast is becoming such a huge media company.

[Menelik_I]

It's predicted prices for cable subscription will go up even higher (which are already fairly high) because comcast is becoming such a huge media company.

All prices are rising in the US due to inflation and oil prices ... Comcast don't' their employees with Leprechaun gold or power their facilities with unicorn fart.

[Admiral Piett]

All prices are rising in the US due to inflation and oil prices ... Comcast don't' their employees with Leprechaun gold or power their facilities with unicorn fart.

It wouldn't be such a big deal if they didn't use their position to illegally (in my mind) regulate traffic.

[Menelik_I]

It wouldn't be such a big deal if they didn't use their position to illegally (in my mind) regulate traffic.

You mean internet traffic ?

The InterWebs isn't a right or free, if the infrastructure you are using to connect belongs to Comcast then as a customers you reach a contract with terms of services with Comcast on usage.

The whole ''net neutrality'' thing is pure nonsense and just like this FCC commissionaire showed, the tool to restrain the company could easily be used by it ... Regulation benefits big companies the most and they can easily game it and the good intentions aren't enough to prevent it.

[Thorn777]

All prices are rising in the US due to inflation and oil prices ... Comcast don't' their employees with Leprechaun gold or power their facilities with unicorn fart.

Not "All prices".

While many basic foods like potatoes or cotton are almost rising by 50%, things like flat-screens or cars are dropping in price. If we take your assertion that "everything" can just go up when we have 3% overall inflation and give in to that excuse, we get 10+% inflation.

Those healthy market forces are obviously hindered here and cause for bloated prices where they shouldn't have to be. But its all over in various sectors.

[Last Roman]

All prices are rising in the US due to inflation and oil prices ... Comcast don't' their employees with Leprechaun gold or power their facilities with unicorn fart.

I'm not talking inflation. I'm talking price increase because of too much market control.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Well if this puts an end to SYFY then this is for the best. I mean FFS that channel has dropped every science fiction show in favor of reality so I hope Comcast fires a few heads.

Oh and of course death to corporate monopolies they are gobbling up markets.

Regarding Meredith stepping down. Thats a prob with our system. We need to reform our laws and make it illegal for heads of govt departments to join private companies that had dealings with. Or at the very least make their approval subject to a neutral judge.

[mrmouth]

It has more tangible effects on people as Comcast is a true monopoly in many markets. They have a strangle hold on the big markets, and are branching out from there.

They are in a constant state of litigation over their business practices at the local, state and government levels.

For the consumer, like myself, I cringe when I read this because they have such a stranglehold on my area and At&t is struggling to make inroads. And forget the smaller cable companies that would truly generate some competition. That is how I look at everything that Comcast does, because they have already ruined my ability to watch local sports that used to be a staple of local TV. Now you have to pay to watch your local teams. It's pure greed.

[Menelik_I]

Now you have to pay to watch your local teams. It's pure greed.

Because it is local doesn't mean the TV rights are free ... I really don't get your reasoning

[mrmouth]

Because it is local doesn't mean the TV rights are free ... I really don't get your reasoning

Comcast creates a unmanageable system for everyone but themselves when they go into major markets and create their own sports channels and toss money at teams that traditional broadcasters of local sports, in the form of local channels, simply cannot compete with.

And another terrible offshoot of that is teams then creating their own channels which you have to subscribe to.

Being that many teams rely heavily on tax payer revenue somewhere along the line, they could have been happy with the profit they made that allowed everyone to watch their local teams. But it simply wasn't enough.

This doesn't make any sense anywhere else on the planet. Local sports is local sports, why would you pay? It is civic pride, etc, not something you market to the highest bidder, unless you are in the US and have swallowed the capitalism gone insane pill.

It isn't fair that hundreds of thousands of people in the working poor neighborhoods of Chicago are blacked out because they cannot afford Comcasts $40-50 month cable package to watch the Bulls in the playoffs. Comcast has spinned the thing to suggest that Comcast Sports Net is local TV. The whole thing sucks.

[Menelik_I]

Comcast creates a unmanageable system for everyone but themselves when they go into major markets and create their own sports channels and toss money at teams that traditional broadcasters of local sports, in the form of local channels, simply cannot compete with.

And another terrible offshoot of that is teams then creating their own channels which you have to subscribe to.

Being that many teams rely heavily on tax payer revenue somewhere along the line, they could have been happy with the profit they made that allowed everyone to watch their local teams. But it simply wasn't enough.

Comcast is trying to provide content to generate viewer-ship/subscriptions and in is investing in these teams, what is the fuss ?

That these teams are receiving Tax-payers candy and free stadiums isn't Comcast fault.

This doesn't make any sense anywhere else on the planet. Local sports is local sports, why would you pay? It is civic pride, etc, not something you market to the highest bidder, unless you are in the US and have swallowed the capitalism gone insane pill.

Well your outcry doesn't make sense tbh.

The sport being ''local'' doesn't make it free, nor does ''civic pride'' ... so if the team is of your town you have to support it unconditionally for ''civil duties'' ?

Sure successful clubs are the ones with Fan base and a tradition to defend ... but still someone has to pay the Bills and some payers and staff are doing this thing in order to better their lives.

The team being local doesn't make it free and the teams have a right to seek more lucrative contracts.

Reminds me when Benfica won the Portuguese League Cup, mind you that I live in an African country, but downtown was jammed with fans celebrating more widely than when one of the local teams win the our league ... the next day we had newspaper nonsense about how '' the country is culturally alienated''

ETA:

It isn't fair that hundreds of thousands of people in the working poor neighborhoods of Chicago are blacked out because they cannot afford Comcasts $40-50 month cable package to watch the Bulls in the playoffs. Comcast has spinned the thing to suggest that Comcast Sports Net is local TV. The whole thing sucks.

Why ? The Bulls owners have a right to sign agreement with Comcast or does there ''hundreds of thousands of people'' own the team ?

[MathiasOfAthens]

Because it is local doesn't mean the TV rights are free ... I really don't get your reasoning

The shows were still aired with advertisements so it wasnt completely free. But now you have to purchase the right to watch local cable with ads. Unintentionally or Intentionally comcast is destroying local pride and local teams with their methods.

[Menelik_I]

The shows were still aired with advertisements so it wasnt completely free. But now you have to purchase the right to watch local cable with ads.

Why is the exact problem ?

Maybe the ads alone don't cover the costs ... also have you seen British TV ... the ing ads are so long you could termite an hamburger while waiting

We are on a different wavelength. Comcast simply dangles the carrot, the team is ultimately just as guilty.

The rest of the world sees it the way I do, obviously. Why would you charge someone to watch your local sports team? Its as simple as that.

What does the teams being local has to do with anything ? The team might be from your town but you don't own them ... so why would have a right to watch them for free ?

You already tax these people to exist, do them a ing favor.

[Lord Zhang Ku]

the major problem with what comcast is doing is that it technically is indeed a monopoly, which is technically illegal. It should also be noted that it seems the chairwoman of the FCC obviously had conflict of interest in this case and indeed should be investigated, as this makes it highly suspicious.

[bushbush]

kudos to my antitrust lawyer brothers.

[mrmouth]

That these teams are receiving Tax-payers candy and free stadiums isn't Comcast fault.

We are on a different wavelength. Comcast simply dangles the carrot, the team is ultimately just as guilty.

The rest of the world sees it the way I do, obviously. Why would you charge someone to watch your local sports team? Its as simple as that.

You already tax these people to exist, do them a ing favor.

[chilon]

...the FCC's commissioner, Meredith Baker, who had final approval on the merger, will be stepping down from the FCC to join...Comcast...

Our system at its finest!

[MathiasOfAthens]

Why is the exact problem ?

Maybe the ads alone don't cover the costs ... also have you seen British TV ... the ing ads are so long you could termite an hamburger while waiting

You obviously havnt seen Swedish TV. The Ads are so long you forget what your watching. Except after midnight... the commercial breaks become less than a minute long for some reason.

I have a radical theory here.

Shows are becoming more reality driven now because they drive greater ratings and profits... due to their less than expensive costs in producing them ( a camera and some sluts).

Now With so few networks owned independently and less competition in the market shows that are written well have to get huge ratings to stay on the air... so as we are seeing with NBC which has cut V, The Event and Star Gate Universe in favor of reality shows like Wrestling and Chimp Mom and Jersey Show is a natural consequence of fewer networks on the market that can compete for shows and viewers.