How Comcast plans to take over the world; NBC jumps Super Bowl ad prices 15% [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Verizon Wireless-Comcast Deal Meets Political Resistance  [Wall Street Journal]
• Police: Man Posing As Comcast Technician Takes Cable Box [WUSA] — In Maryland
• Wall Street Reflects on Comcast-NBCUniversal Ahead of Deal’s First Anniversary [Hollywood Reporter]
• Comcast CEO looking to expand global reach [Philadelphia Inquirer]
• Comcast Signs Multiyear Extension With Amdocs [Multichannel News] – “Vendor Also Cites Strong Performance in Europe, Emerging Markets”

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Comcast sales reps to sell in Verizon stores, Bloomberg takes swing at NBC merger [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• If Comcast can’t make it in the wireless biz, who can? [Gigaom]
• New in Your Wireless Store: The Cable Guy [Media Decoder: New York Times] — “A pending $3.6 billion transfer of spectrum between cable companies and Verizon Wireless will give Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, a presence in select Verizon retail locations. Comcast salesmen will offer Verizon customers special offers on cellphones and other deals if they sign up for Comcast’s Xfinity service.”
• Bloomberg jabs at Comcast on anniversary of NBC deal approval [LA Times: Company Town]
• Verizon, Comcast Send Marketing Deals to FCC in Airwaves Review [Bloomberg]
• VIDEO: Comcast Xfinity Commercials Interrupt Giants Vs. 49ers Game (UPDATED) [Half Smokes] — in D.C. market

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Comcast is the fastest broadband provider in U.S., joins marketing forces with Verizon [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Comcast is the fastest broadband provider in the U.S. [Gigaom]
• Comcast Leads $5M Round In Subscription Service For Kids Activities Kiwi Crate [Tech Crunch] — “Kiwi Crate, a subscription service for kids activities, has raised $5 million in new funding led by Comcast Ventures with existing investors First Round Capital” and others.
• Comcast, Verizon launch joint marketing effort [Herald Net] — “Consumers can sign up for Verizon wireless products through Comcast, or add Comcast’s home Internet, television or telephone service through Verizon. The new joint service is being rolled out initially only in Seattle and Portland.” Says Fierce Cable, Comcast “is pursuing a strategy similar to its satellite TV and telco rivals.”
• Comcast raising cable rates twice in 10-month period [Boston Globe] — in Boston
• Comcast, Verizon launch joint marketing effort [Sentinel and Enterprise] — In rural Massachusetts, Comcast is being asked to extend broadband service beyond its contract
• Clarifying Comcast’s Spectrum Position [Comcast Voices] — Says Philly Tech News “Comcast EVP David Cohen tries to walk back Vice Chairman Michael Angelakis’ comment at a Citi conference early this month that “[w]e never really intended to build that spectrum”.”

Comcast-Spectacor sued for $2M over 76ers sale finder’s fee [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Pair sue Comcast-Spectacor over $2M finder’s fee in 76ers sale, say they brought in buyer [Associated Press via Washington Post] -  “Two sports executives have sued former Philadelphia 76ers owner Comcast-Spectacor seeking a $2 million finder’s fee over the team’s October sale.”
• Cable Providers to Offer ‘HBO Go’ Service [New York Times] — Comcast had offered to its customers earlier in the year, followed now Time Warner Cable and Cablevision
• Comcast exec named to bank board: Angelakis to remain at cabler while serving Federal Reserve [Chicago Tribune] — Comcast CFO Michael Angelakis

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Can Comcast be as mighty as Google? [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Can Comcast Be As Mighty As Google? [Philadelphia magazine] — A profile of NBC President Steve Burke
• There were more than 327 volunteers for Comcast Cares Day in Haddington/Overbrook [PhillyStat Twitter]
• Comcast expands IPv6 services into four more states [Network World]
• NFL signs TV deals worth billions with Fox, NBC and CBS [LA Times: Company Town'
• Demo Day at DreamIt Ventures Features Minority-led Startups Sponsored by Comcast [Comcast blog] — We covered DreamIt Demo Day here
• Comcast Ventures Eyeing Startups in the Second Screen Engagement, Social TV Arena [App Market]
• Raúl Valentín Joins Comcast As Vice President of Talent Acquisition [Business Wire press release]
• Bright House, Comcast, Verizon team up on local ad sales in Tampa [Fierce Cable] — “Bright House Networks is teaming up with rival Verizon to sell local cable advertising in the Tampa, Fla., market.”
• MAYOR NUTTER CONGRATULATES HOLMESBURG TIGERS FOR WINNING AYF CHAMPIONSHIP [City of Philadelphia press release] — Comcast donated money toward the Holmesburg Boys Club Tigers in Northeast Philadelphia participating in the American Youth Football championship.
• Former Comcast manager starts job at rival [Augusta Chronicle]

Black employees in Chicago accuse Comcast of discrimination [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Comcast Tangled in Discrimination Suit [BET] — “Several of the company’s black employees in Chicago say that they were required to install defective and insect-infested equipment in customers’ homes. ” More from the Chicago Tribune here. Officially, the company denies the allegations.
• Key NBC executive Marc Graboff to leave the network [Company Town: LA Times] — “Marc Graboff, president of NBC’s West Coast business operations and the TV network’s longtime consigliere, is leaving the company” after diminishing role, following Comcast’s takeover.
• Q&A: How Comcast is adjusting to our changing TV habits [GeekWire] — “Interview with Tom Blaxland, senior director of product management for Comcast Interactive Media” says Philly Tech News
• Comcast gives CFO Angelakis new contract, title [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “Michael J. Angelakis that promotes him from executive vice president and chief financial officer to vice chairman and CFO.”

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Comcast to offer free wireless router for new Xfinity customers [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Comcast to offer free wireless gateway [Connected Planet] — With Comcast subscription, more from the company’s blog here.
• Comcast shows off its new ‘Barcelona’ HD guide upgrade [Engadget]
• iPad, Xoom Get First Crack at Comcast’s AnyPlay [Light Reading Cable]
• Comcast content swap in Phila. nets high school sports [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s CSNPhilly.com  site will provide the Calkins newspaper chain with pro sports coverage in exchange for high school sports coverage from Calkins reporters.”
• Comcast: Wait time for service appointments has shrunk from four hours to two [Boston Globe] — “Comcast Corp. said its initiative to shorten the waiting times for most scheduled service appointments to two hours is now in effect in the Greater Boston market.”
• Comcast’s GM resigns to become Knology’s GM [Augusta Chronicle] — Abu Khan, “The general manager of Comcast in Augusta has left to become the manager of Knology in Augusta.”
• Comcast policy on credits for interrupted service after snowstorm displeases Springfield City Councilor James Ferrera [Mass Live] — Springfield, Mass. “City Councilor James J. Ferrera III  told Comcast Cable officials Monday that he disagrees with the company’s policy of requiring customers to call Comcast if they are seeking a refund for interrupted service related to the major snowstorm on Oct. 29. “

Comcast in talks with Zee Entertainment to more than triple distribution of Indian programming [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Zee Holds Talks With Comcast, Time Warner Cable to Triple Presence in U.S. [Bloomberg] — “Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the Indian media company led by billionaire Subhash Chandra, is in talks with Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc. to expand distribution in the U.S. and plans to more than triple the number of homes it reaches in the country next year.”
• Comcast’s CIO to Exit in 2011 [Light Reading] — “Chief Information Officer Andrew Baer is set to leave the company by the end of the year,”
• Comcast offers Internetservice at reduced cost [Romeo Observer] — Internet Essential rolls out in Michigan
• Comcast: ‘Don’t be a dish head’ [Fierce Cable] – new ad campaign debuting
• One Great Idea: David L. Cohen: Executive vice president, Comcast [Philly.com] — “His One Great Idea: Ensuring that more Philadelphians have access to the Internet regardless of income” Video below

Comcast, others try to make young consumers TV subscribers with ‘data-first packages’ [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• The children are our future, and they don’t pay for TV [Gigaom] — Comcast “execs said the company has benefited from a number of marketing programs aimed at college students and recent grads that push data-first packages.”
• NBC Struggles for Its Footing [New York Times] — The TODAY Show has seen its ratings falter, along with others at the Comcast owned property
• Comcast Posts 4.7% Profit, With Mixed Results From NBCUniversal Acquisition [Media Decoder: New York Times]
• NHL Network Selects Comcast Media Center For Network Origination and Transmission Services [Market Watch]
• No HBO Go for Roku users on Comcast or DirecTV [Gigaom] — H/T Philly Tech News
• Comcast switching from analog to digital [News & Advance]
• Drug-Sniffing Dogs at the Comcast Center? [Patch]
• Lazarus: NBC Sports Network Changes Will Be ‘Done Well, Not Fast’ [Multichannel News]
• Suspect in Fairhaven Comcast holdup sought [SouthCoast] — In Connecticut
• Comcast, Ambercrombie And Fitch: 2 Stocks On Sale For No Good Reason [Seeking Alpha]
• Comcast Promotes Peter Kiriacoulacos to Executive Vice President of Comcast Cable and Appoints Him Senior Vice President of NBCUniversal [Business Wire]
• McGinn Named VP of NBC ‘Multi-Station Local Programming’ [Broadcasting & Cable] — Meredith McGinn

Comcast increased third quarter profits, met with Occupy Philly protestors [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 email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Outspent 60:1, Longmont Kicks Comcast’s Assets [Fighting the Next Good Fight] — Oakland-based broadband strategist Craig Settles focuses his eyes on a small city lobbying battle over broadband choice in Longmont, Colo., in which Comcast lost out.
• Nine Occupy Philly protesters arrested at Comcast Center [Technically Philly]
• Comcast Rises on Cable; Film Helps Time Warner [New York Times] — “Increases in high-speed Internet customers and advertising sales at NBCUniversal’s trove of profitable cable networks helped increase third-quarter profits at the Comcast Corporation, the company said Wednesday. ” More from the Philadelphia Business Journal here and Philly Tech News here.
• NBCUniversal to Invest Millions to Enhance Local News at 10 NBC TV Stations [Hollywood Reporter] — This Includes WCAU in Philadelphia.

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