Barack Obama raises $1.2 million at Chestnut Hill fundraiser held by David L. Cohen: Comcast Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Obama and Romney converge on Philadelphia for competing bouts of fund-raising [Inquirer] — For Obama, includes campaign held in the Chestnut Hill home of Comcast EVP David L. Cohen, which raised at least $1.2 million, according to the Washington Post.
• Comcast has to sit on its hands while Hulu drama plays out [LA Times: Company Town] — “Imagine owning a big chunk of a company and having no say in its operations or future.That’s the position Comcast Corp. finds itself in with regard to Hulu, the online video site that consists primarily of content from its owners…”

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Comcast CEO Brian Roberts demos enhanced TV with Facebook [VIDEO]: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Comcast CEO: “Jury is Out” on Netflix’s Impact [Wall Street Journal: Digits] — Brian Roberts on whether Netflix is friend or foe.
• Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Speaks Out on Bloomberg FCC Complaint, NBC News [MediaBistro]
• Hulu weighs sale options after approach: source [Reuters] — Comcast, via NBC, has some ownership. Tech Crunch called this BS.
• Powell: Comcast/NBCU Merger Net Positive for Industry [Broadcasting & Cable] — “National Cable & Telecommunications Association President and former FCC Chairman Michael Powell told a C-SPAN interviewer that he thought the Comcast/NBCU meld would be a net positive for the industry, providing some ‘real glue’ for an industry already melding increasingly disparate interests.”

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Comcast partnerships with Skype, Facebook: Roundup [VIDEO]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Comcast to Offer Customers Skype Video Calls on Their TVs [New York Times] — “In the cable television industry’s latest extension into home communication, Comcast and Skype  announced on Monday that some Comcast customers would soon be able to video chat on their TV sets from the comfort of their living rooms. ” VIDEO below
• Comcast Taps Facebook for Enhanced TV Experience [Hollywood Reporter] — “Comcast Corp. is working with Facebook, Intel and other technology firms to create what it calls a next-generation TV experience, which will make the TV screen more interactive by adding Internet features and apps. “
• @ Cable Show: Comcast’s Roberts Shows Off 1Gbps Potential [paidContent] h/t Philly Tech News

Below, video of Comcast/Skype partnership, plans to profit off the Olympics and more.

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Comcast buys Olympics, Universal Studios, Spectacor to sell 76ers [VIDEO]: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• NBC Wins the U.S. Television Rights to Olympic Games Through 2020 [Bloomberg]
• NBC Universal snaps up other half of Orlando parks [Reuters] — “NBCU will buy out [Blackstone] the private equity firm’s 50 percent stake in Universal Orlando for around $1.025 billion.”
• How Will NBCUniversal’s Olympics Deal Affect Comcast’s Stock? [Hollywood Reporter] — H/T Philly Tech News

MIGHT INTEREST

• New day for Comcast to spend $$ [Philly Inc: Inquirer] — For Olympics and Universal Studios
• “Education Nation Experience” Launches in Philadelphia [Comcast blog] –David L. Cohen kicking off the NBC News event with others at National Constitution Center
• Comcast VC arm leads stampede to San Francisco’s 1 Kearny St. [San Francisco Business Times]
• NBC finishes last in prime time [Philadelphia Business Journal]
• Comcast to offer home security package [Reuters] — As we’ve heard before, pushing into the other market of home security
• Comcast SportsNet to telecast Philadelphia bike race in high definition [Philadelphia Business Journal] — The local sports network shot the International Cycling Championship, including the Wall in Manayunk
• Sources: 76ers sales talks ongoing, sale ‘imminent’ [ESPN] — In which Comcast-Spectacor sells to a New York-based ‘leveraged buyout specialist’ Joshua Harris, a Wharton grad

Comcast to spend $1B to become full Universal Studios owner: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Comcast to Buy Blackstone’s Stake in Universal’s Orlando Parks (Exclusive) [The Wrap] — “Comcast is expected to pay between $1 billion to $1.5 billion to become the full owner of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure”
• Ebersol’s Parting Thoughts [Wall Street Journal: The Daily Fix] — Longtime NBC Sports head Dick Ebersol spills upon his abrupt departure.

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What if a tweet cost your nonprofit $18,000 in Comcast funding?: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscription for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Comcast yanks funds for nonprofit after tweet about FCC Baker’s jump [Post Tech: Washington Post] — Seattle nonprofit Reel Grrls tweeted in opposition to the hire of former FCC chair Meredith Attwell Baker, which prompted a Comcast flack to threaten the organization’s funding, a stance that was then reversed by the company. Now the nonprofit has said it had decided to not take any Comcast funding anyway because the instance had ‘raised too many concerns.’ The funding in question was $18,000.
• Dick Ebersol Resigns From NBC Sports [New York Times] — “Dick Ebersol, who had defined NBC’s formidable Olympic presence since the mid-1990s and who was the last of the high-profile TV sports impresarios, resigned abruptly on Thursday after negotiations on a four-year contract collapsed. ” Ebersol profile by LA Times here.
• As New Owner of NBC Universal, Can Comcast Merge the Corporate with the Creative? [Knowledge@Wharton]

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How Comcast is bringing ‘the death of the land line:’ Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

• FCC’s Meredith Baker goes on the defensive [Post Tech: Washington Post] — “Federal Communications commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker defended her decision to join Comcast NBC Universal just months after voting in favor of the company’s joint venture.”
• The Fastest Growing Industry in the Country? It’s Digital Voice [The Atlantic] — Comcast is leading the charge with ‘cable VoIP,’ which, with ‘peer-to-peer’ like Skype and ‘virtual VoIP’ like Vonage, is marking ‘the death of the land line.”
• Hulu, Networks Close To New Deal [Media Memo: All Things Digital] — “Hulu and its network TV owners are close to a new deal that will keep programs from NBC, Fox and ABC on the Web video site.”
• Ron Meyer offered contract extension as head of Universal Studios [Company Town: LA Times] — “Comcast Corp. has made an offer to renew the contract of longtime Universal Studios chief Ron Meyer “
• Comcast Donates $250K To Alabama Charities For Tornado Relief [Multichannel News] — “MSO Contributes to Governor’s Relief Fund, Local and National Red Cross”
• Comcast OK’s its proposals, nixes those of shareholders [Philadelphia Business Journal] — Including shareholder nominees to board of directors

Comcast launching 24-hour TV news in California, Texas, Florida: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

• Comcast outlines plan to turn around NBCU [Inquirer] — NBCUniversal is investing $200 million more into developing hit NBC prime-time shows in 2011 than it did in 2010 to pull the broadcast network out of the ratings cellar”
• Net Incomes Rise Solidly for CBS and Comcast [NY Times]
• Comcast investors advised to calm down [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “…all the attention paid to NBC Universal ‘will obscure a very strong quarterly result for [Comcast’s] cable business,’ which provided $9.1 billion of the company’s $12.13 billion in revenue in the quarter and grew 5.8 percent, beating consensus estimates of 5.1 percent, from $8.58 billion in the first quarter of last year.”
• Consumers give FCC an earful on AT&T bid to buy T-Mobile [Post Tech: Washington Post] — “A look at the docket for the $39 billion proposed union shows few lawmakers weighing in on the merger. In contrast, Comcast’s deal to merge with NBC Universal drew early support and opposition from dozens of lawmakers and state regulators.”
• NBC launching local news channels in 3 states; watchdog criticizes efforts so far [Company Town: LA Times] — In California, Texas and Florida “Comcast committed to producing an additional 1,000 hours of local news on its NBC stations and another 1,000 hours for its Telemundo stations. The channels will launch this week.”
• Comcast adding some ABC, Fox shows to on-demand lineup [Philadelphia Business Journal]
• Just Another Day At Comcast [Comcast blog] — Near Seattle, two Comcast technicians apprehended an escaped criminal.
• Couric Bows Out as CBS’s Anchor [Wall Street Journal] — Katie Couric could be going to Comcast for an NBC show
• On eve of his departing, Comcast’s Brodsky looks back at the many wins [Inquirer] — Julian Brodsky, one of two fellow Comcast founders with Ralph Roberts is retiring from the Comcast board at 77 H/T PTN
• Comcast Announces Changes to State Government Affairs Team [Tech Daily Dose: National Journal] — “Comcast announced some personnel changes Thursday, including snagging a former Federal Communications Commission member to help lead its government affairs shop in California.” Including FCC member Rachelle Chong and a promotion for Bret Perkins
• The Comcast blog celebrates the 10th anniversary of Comcast Cares Day by talking to CEO Brian Roberts about having some 62,000 Comcast employees volunteer across the country on one day.
  

Comcast and NBC prepare for Olympics bid, pledges profit on new $2B NHL deal

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

• Olympic$ hurdle for Ebersol and Comcast [New York Post] — “As US television networks put the finishing touches on Olympic TV rights bids due next month, there’s growing friction between NBC Universal’s longtime Olympics chief, Dick Ebersol, and network brass..” H/T Philly Tech News
• NBC Sports Chief Says Network Will Make Money on $2 Billion NHL Deal [Hollywood Reporter]
• Comcast SportsNet pilots NBC O&O plan [Variety] — “Three months into its joint venture with NBCUniversal, Comcast is moving fast on the synergy front, announcing Wednesday that starting in June its regional sports network in the Bay Area will provide sports news for NBC’s owned and operated station in San Francisco, KNTV, Channel 11.” H/T PTN
• NBCUniversal diversity executive Paula Madison to step down [LA Times Company Town] — Paula Madison leaves to focus on family’s investment business, replaced with Maria Arias
• NBCU Head of Washington, D.C., Office Exits [The Wrap] — Bob Okun leaves, noted in a list of shuffles since the Comcast acquisition
• Comcast’s ‘Extreme’ 105 megabits service in Philadelphia, other regions [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Comcast joins Time Warner Cable over streaming content: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get ane-mail subscription for our Comcast news updates.

• Two Hints at Stepped-Up Media Rivalry in Online Streaming [New York Times] — In addition to the rumored Netflix-themed Amazon product, “Comcast and Time Warner announced an unusually comprehensive pact on Tuesday that covers the online streaming of channels like TNT, TBS, CNN and the Cartoon Network.” More from paidContent and the Comcast blog.
• NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke Drops Comcast COO Title [The Hollywood Reporter] — A move to show his focus on NBC
• Comcast’s Xfinity TV now streaming video to iPads [CED Magazine]
• Comcast Spent $4.2 Million on Lobbying in 4Q [ABC News]
• NBC Sports Execs to take prominent role in combined operations with Comcast [AP: Winnipeg Free Pres]  More on sports restructuring from LA Times and Bloomberg
• Hoping Xfinity brand connects [Denver Post] — With regional customers there. H/T Philly Tech News
• Millions in Comcast Settlement Will Be Distributed to Customers [KEZI 9] — “As a result of a class action lawsuit settlement with Comcast, Oregon Comcast customers will be eligible to receive compensation for erroneous late fees.  It is estimated that 500,000 people will receive a notice on how to file a claim to receive a portion of the money.  Up to $23 million will be distributed to current and former Comcast Customers.”
• Comcast to feature videos of missing children [Crime Scene: Washington Post]
• Comcast Back-Burners SDV (Again) [Light Reading] — ‘Switched digital video’ for managing bandwidth.