Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, on December 23, 2010, issued a “draft order of approval” for the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal which says that FCC would approve the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal but the company would have to fulfill certain conditions.
The merger has been opposed by consumer interest groups, cable and broadband operators, online television distributors and some lawmakers. They do not support the merger for it would have too much power.
Comcast is currently the largest cable operator and home internet service provider in the U.S. It provides cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to residential and commercial customers. It also has stakes in numerous other media related businesses. On the contrary, NBC Universal, Inc. is a media and entertainment company that produces various entertainment products and information products. It also has motion picture companies and if Comcast acquires stakes in NBC, FCC and other law agency officials believe that the company would exercise too much influence on the media industry especially, Internet TV industry which is the next major trend.
The order has been sent to four other members of the FCC for consideration and voting would take place next month.
Under the conditions, the newly formed company would have to share TV shows with its competing cable and telecom services and new “Web platforms” such as Apple TV and Netflix.
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