Comcast-NBC merger reaction from local Chamber head, others

A voice of Philadelphia’s business community has made clear his support for Comcast’s majority acquisition of NBC Universal.

“There is an immediate jolt to the reputation of the city and region. This raises our visibility nationally and globally as the headquarters of Comcast,” said Rob Wonderling, the CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, in an organization press release. “It makes Ralph and Brian Roberts decision to stay in Philadelphia and build the HQ here even more significant and admirable.”

Last Thursday, Comcast announced it had agreed to terms with General Electric to take a 51 percent stake in NBC. The deal will have to undergo federal regulatory approval, primarily from the Federal Communications Commission, which could take up to a year.

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Comcast Roundup: FCC 30 percent cap dropped, why Verizon stock sells higher and More

Every Thursday morning, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup.

Updated: 8/3/09 11:04 a.m. on search

paidContent reports that a federal appellate court overruled the Bush-era FCC mandate limiting a 30 percent cap on cable ownership, suggesting the door is left open for more consolidation. All eyes turned to Comcast, who the Silicon Valley Insider outright called a winner on the outcome and for whom the Inquirer story suggested it was a “moral” win. Reuters reported that the Philly MSO’s stock saw an uptick.

In this month’s Philadelphia magazine, stringer Vicki Glembocki profiles Andrew Beecham, the 46-year-old Brit turned Main Line-resident, who brought the Wiggles to Sprout — and gave Scott McNulty the chance to interview them — the preschool TV channel he created in 2005 and now for which he serves as vice president of programming. It’s an interesting piece on what is proving to be a big success in Comcast’s push to be a major player in content creation. We’d share a link, but couldn’t find it using a decidedly abysmal Phillymag search. So, buy a copy for goodness sake, or, you know, wait until I dig the link up. Update: The interesting profile can be seen here.

After the jump, interesting research on what keeps Comcast stock lower than those in less profitable markets, why some say TV Everywhere is bound to fail and three other Comcast pieces for the faithful.

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Comcast Roundup: How Verizon is losing, Scott McNulty interviews the Wiggles and More

Every Thursday morning, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup.

Yahoo Finance reports on the attention paid to an increasingly apparent strategy of monetization from Comcast’s Interactive Media arm. There are circles who peg the company’s Web growth on that young crew.

Inquirer business columnist Joe DiStefano shares a report on just how Comcast is beating Verizon: their primary business, silly bear. The wireless industry is hotly contested, driving prices down, while cable remains monopoly based, keeping prices high and leaving companies like Comcast and TimeWarner Cable smiling.

After the jump check a low Internet speed ranking, FCC warning shots and an interview with the Wiggles, for real.

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Comcast Roundup: Verizon says desist, NBA TV inks and More

Every Thursday morning, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup.

It isn’t true, so you really ought to stop saying it.

That’s the crux of a cease and desist letter that Verizon Communications has sent to Comcast in response to the telecommunications giant’s series of advertisements called “Don’t Fall for FiOS,” in which, among other claims, Comcast calls a triple-play-like service for bundle from Verizon $400 more expensive per year than the ‘Cast’s version, as reported Tuesday by the Inquirer’s Bob Fernandez.

“Verizon’s been running a negative campaign against Comcast for years and its response to our campaign shows that they can dish it out but they can’t take it,” a Comcast spokeswoman says.

Boys and girls, that fight is getting as mean spirited as Boost and Cricket. Get more details in Bob’s story.

After the jump, Comcast reports to the FCC, a mildly awkward Comcast interview on Web teen safety and four other stories that would interest any Comcast-head.

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Comcast Roundup: “Worst Company in America,” Hulu threatens and More

Comcast’s place as this year’s “Worst Company in America” is being voted on today in the final round of the annual event held by Consumerist, the Consumer’s Union-owned nonprofit Web site. It is vying for lowlight with AIG — called the battle of the monopoly and the bailout.

It keeps growing and all your complaining ain’t stopping it.

This continued bruising of a telecommunications giant that has seen plenty of it comes on the heels of a five-and-a-half percent first quarter jump in profits for Comcast. The only rising cost for the profitable cable company is programming.

See other top Comcast headlines, including why Hulu should be scary, what happened to Joost and a $1 billion plan I don’t fully understand, after the jump.

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