Critics fear Comcast-NBCU merger
Competition. Diversity. Independence. These have emerged as huge issues since Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV provider and an owner of sports and entertainment networks, first proposed taking over NBC Universal Inc., which owns entertainment, sports, and news operations, broadcast stations, film and TV production studios, and some of cable television's more successful networks.
Competition.
Diversity.
Independence.
These have emerged as huge issues since Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV provider and an owner of sports and entertainment networks, first proposed taking over NBC Universal Inc., which owns entertainment, sports, and news operations, broadcast stations, film and TV production studios, and some of cable television's more successful networks.
Critics of the merger, currently under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, fear that joining Philadelphia-based Comcast and NBC Universal will put too much control of programming and delivery systems into the hands of a single entity.
Who owns what you watch now, before the merger?
A spotlight on the first 100 channels of Comcast's non-premium cable offerings in The Inquirer's zip code, 19101, shows NBC Universal and Comcast at the top of this list, along with the Walt Disney Co.
- Joanne McLaughlin
American Movie Classics Co.: 3 (American Movie Classics, Sundance, Independent Film Channel)
CBS Broadcasting Inc.: 2 (CBS, the CW)
Comcast: 9 (iN DEMAND, Comcast Network, Comcast SportsNet, E!, Style, Versus, TV One, Golf Channel, leased-access channel)
Discovery Communications Inc.: 3 (Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet)
Disney, including ABC, ESPN, and A&E Television Network interests: 9 (ABC, ESPN, Lifetime, A&E, ABC Family, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, History, Disney Channel)
Fox Broadcasting Co.: 4 (Fox, FX, Fox News, Fox Movie Channel)
Liberty Media Holding Corp., including Crown Media Holdings Inc. interests: 4 (QVC, HSN, Hallmark, Encore)
NBC Universal, including A&E Television Networks L.L.C. interests: 10 (NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Bravo, Syfy, Weather Channel, A&E, Lifetime, History)
Scripps Network Interactive Inc.: 2 (HGTV, Food Network)
Turner Broadcasting System Inc.: 7 (CNN, CNN Headline News, truTV, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies)
Viacom Inc.: 8 (VH1, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Spike, MTV, CMT, TV Land)
Other notable players: 6, one each on this channel lineup - Univision Communications Inc., Trinity Broadcasting Network, Tribune Co., Game Show Network L.L.C., EWTN Global Catholic Network, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (TV Guide Channel)
* Does not equal 100; not all channels active.
Source: Network and corporate websites, station-licensing documents filed with the FCC