Comcast: Rotten Tomatoes reviews to remain independent
Now that Comcast Corp. owns Rotten Tomatoes, can the website's reviews be trusted for Comcast-owned films produced and distributed by Universal Pictures?
Now that Comcast Corp. owns Rotten Tomatoes, can the website's reviews be trusted for Comcast-owned films produced and distributed by Universal Pictures?
Paul Yanover, head of the Comcast-owned Fandango online movie-ticket buying service, says the answer is yes. Rotten Tomatoes and its critic-rating "Tomatometer" will retain editorial independence from the profit-rich Universal.
Comcast acquired the studio as part of its deal for NBCUniversal in 2011. Fandango, which Comcast has owned since 2007, recently announced that it had bought Rotten Tomatoes and Flixster from Time Warner Inc. Terms were not disclosed.
Yanover noted that Rotten Tomatoes maintained its editorial independence under Time Warner, which also owns Warner Bros.
With the deal, Comcast will control almost everything about the first-run movie experience except ownership of the theater itself. Flixter lists times and places where movies are showing. Rotten Tomatoes has reviews. Fandango sells tickets. Universal produces and distributes movies.
"Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes are invaluable resources for movie fans and we look forward to growing these successful properties, driving more theatrical ticketing and super-serving consumers with all their movie needs," Yanover said in a statement announcing the Flixster/Rotten Tomatoes deal.
215-854-5897@bobfernandez1