“What used to be called ‘reruns’ on television is now called Netflix:” 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 subscri ption for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Calls Netflix Streaming Service a Positive [Hollywood Reporter] “What used to be called “reruns” on television is now called Netflix,” he says
• Comcast’s Brian Roberts: The man who loves cable [Company Town: Los Angeles Times] — Brian Roberts was most concerned about transitioning Steve Burke from COO to NBC chief.

MIGHT INTEREST

• Peers or not? Comcast and Level 3 slug it out at FCC’s doorstep [ars technica] H/T PTN
• Comcast, NBC deal opens door for online video [USA Today]
• Cable TV In Pursuit Of Mobility [State of the Art: New York Times] — A funny faux internal Comcast memo on trends in the industry of TV.

Below, a big deal with Samsung, negotiating Manhattan real estate and more.

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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.

Comcast Roundup: Senate chairman worried, House leader encouraged by NBC 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 subscription for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• Internet issues bog down Comcast-NBC merger [LA Times]
• Comcast Tests Combo Internet-Cable Device [Wall Street Journal] — “Comcast Corp. is testing a new service that knits together television and the Internet, as the U.S. cable giant goes after rivals that threaten to undermine its business.
• Rockefeller Pans Comcast-NBCU Deal [Tech Daily Does: National Journal] — “Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller – the most powerful voice in Congress on telecom policy — told the FCC he’s worried that the $30 billion transaction could have a detrimental impact on consumers and competition.”
• Comcast getting good deal on NBC Universal, research firm Bernstein says [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Below, why Comcast should chase the Olympics, is the end of NBC regulatory approval nearing and more.

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[UPDATED] Comcast Roundup: merger would make NBC ‘robust,’ Q3 profit falls 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 ane-mail subscription for our Comcast news updates.

Updated 10/28/10 @ 10:23 p.m. with a variety of new stories

DEFINITE READS

• Zalaznick Says Comcast Takeover Would Make NBC `Robust’ [Washington Post] — Video of Lauren Zalaznick, head of NBC Universal Inc.’s women and lifestyle division, saying just that.
• Comcast Loses More Subscribers Than Expected, but Its Earnings Top Estimates [New York Times]
• Is Comcast’s Xfinity TV a Trojan Horse? [Gigaom] H/T Philly Tech News

Below, Comcast says its ‘disappearing subscribers’ aren’t ‘cord cutters’ and more.

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David Cohen: Comcast not worried about online video

David Cohen (left) is interview by Supernova Hub organizer Kevin Werbach

According to what David Cohen says, Comcast isn’t worried about the shift to online video.

In fact, he says, the company is welcoming it — enough so that the future of online video has become the dominant conversation surrounding the company’s proposed acquisition of NBC Universal. Regulators are a wreck over what the merger might mean for moving pictures on the web, but Comcast maintains that the deal would stimulate, not stifle, competition.

During his keynote interview at today’s Superniva Hub conference, Comcast’s Executive Vice President answered a wide range of questions about his company’s merger with NBCU and privacy concerns (see our Q and A with him here).

“People often don’t realize how large Comcast is,” said Cohen adding that NBCU will only be 20 percent of Comcast.

But Cohen’s main focus was Xfinity and its role in content creation. Below, hear why Cohen and Comcast aren’t concerned about the shift to online video.

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Comcast Roundup: FCC loses court appeal on net neutrality, could NBC just be a start 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 New York Times reports on a federal appeals court decision that says the FCC has no authority to keep cable companies from blocking or slowing specific sites and charge high-volume video sites to have their content delivered faster.
• Bloomberg reports that at least five states are involved in the regulatory review of the Comcast acquisition of NBC, in addition to an independent inquiry from the Florida attorney general.

Below, a radio interview on net neutrality, could Comcast want more content than NBC provides and more.

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Comcast Roundup: Xfinity is the new iPod, more channels on the way 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

Another week, another round of questions from Congress about the NBCU/Comcast merger. In this week’s episode, both companies deflected accusations that the merger would result in significant job losses. Also: Brian Roberts gets stuck in a well.

Thanks to its new “World of More” effort to digitize all channels, the company will�will be able to offer 30 more channels to basic subscribers.

The Inky’s Joey D�chatted with CFO Michael J. Angelakis. Among the highlights: Comcast�believes�Xfinity is to Comcast as iPod is to Apple or Windows is to Microsoft.

Below: Comcast gets a new DVR mobile app … and a new public service�announcement.

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Comcast Roundup: Al Franken wants money for fighting NBC deal, xfinity ad 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 Atlantic Wire suggests that like Google Buzz is an attack on social media companies like Facebook, the search engine’s announcement that it will offer super fast broadband networks to select municipalities is an attack on telecommunications companies like Comcast.
• The Business Insider reports that Senator Al Franken used his vocal opposition to the Comcast-NBC deal to garner campaign donations.

Below, an anti-Comcast pink dragon, the first xfinity TV ad and more.

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Comcast Roundup: Sen. Al Franken says ‘hard to trust,’ NBC lobbying continues 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 Washington Post reports on Comcast’s bolstered presence in D.C. circles, ahead of regulatory oversight of its deal for NBC.
• The New York Times reports that Democrats in particular have been critical of the NBC deal. Among them, the Washington Post reports that former NBC star and current Senator Al Franken said NBC can’t be trusted. But the Post also reports that Pittsburgh’s mayor, among other local leaders, encouraged their congressional members to support the deal.

Below, why some say the Comcast-NBC deal would ruin Web video, Brian Roberts makes a promise about layoffs and More.

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Comcast Roundup: NBC hearings begin today, a Google balance 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

• USA Today reports that Hulu executives are likely eager to start experimenting with paid version of the popular video streaming site but must wait for the finalized result of Comcast’s deal with NBC, which owns nearly a third of the site.
• The Washington Post reports that today the congressional hearings on the Comcast-NBC deal have begun.
• paidContent reports on Democratic staff memos that discuss, ahead of today’s congressional hearings on the matter, the impact the merger has to “fundamentally shape the way Web video evolves.”

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