Comcast Roundup: Comcast knew about Leno’s ratings, NBC deal a “probably” and More

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

• The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that Comcast-Spectacor will buy ticketing company Paciolan, which Ticketmaster has to spin off to win approval from the U.S. Justice Department for its merger with Live Nation.
• Reuters reports that Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the U.S. Senate’s communications and technology subcommittee, said oversight of the Comcast-NBC deal can “probably” be resolved.
• Bloomberg reports that NBC had warned Comcast in November that Jay Leno’s ratings were hurting local stations, a major factor in the controversy surrounding moving Leno and releasing Conan O’Brien. H/T Philly Tech News

After the jump, what Comcast would trade for SportsNet, notes from the State of the Net speech and More.

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Comcast Roundup: NBC deal facing long review, Comcast dabbles in Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger and More

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.

• Reuters reports that Comcast’s deal to take from General Electric a majority stake in NBC Universal seems increasingly likely but that its acceptance will then be slowed by a lengthy review process, not only by the FCC but by congressional committees beginning the long haul to midterm elections.
• In an excellent piece of business journalism, the New York Times runs a top notch profile of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and his path through content courting. Read this, my friends.
• Not to be outdone, the LA Times has its own piece of long-form Comcast business journalism, chronicling how the NBC Universal purchase would make it an elite “major global communications player.”
• Bloomberg News reports that Comcast is working with Ticketmaster and Live Nation on salvaging their mega merger that is now under U.S. antitrust scrutiny. Does that merger still sound crazy to you? Read this excellent Philadelphia Weekly cover story on it from the alt weekly’s music editor Brian McManus.

After the jump Verizon FiOS swiping Comcast customers in Chestnut Hill and video of a Comcast executive talking about TV Everywhere.

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