[1] Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts described the deal as a "perfect fit" for the company, as Comcast would be able to bolster its role as a creator and distributor of content, with a particular emphasis on "[the] multiplatform ‘anytime, anywhere’ media that American consumers are demanding"; increasing access to NBC-owned content through various platforms.
[6] GE's CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt justified the deal, citing a desire to move purely back into the industrial sector, and was also motivated by the Great Recession.
AOL proposed that the FCC enforce its program access rules for Comcast's online video content as well, requiring the provider to offer it to competitors at a fair rate.
Four months later, Meredith Attwell Baker, the FCC commissioner who approved the deal, was hired as a lobbyist by Comcast.
[10] NBC Universal, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding company and was renamed NBCUniversal Media, LLC on January 29.
[11] Comcast agreed to offer an internet service plan for qualifying low-income families for at least three years as part of the acquisition.
[13] In March 2014, as he met with FCC concerning a proposal to acquire Time Warner Cable, Comcast vice president David Cohen told reporters that the Internet Essentials program would be extended indefinitely.
They think that Comcast must have to make some changes because NBC broadcast station traditionally has only one revenue path, the advertising;[22] The three major topics are media ownership, competition, diversity, and localism.
FCC Commissioner Copps once said, "It will create a single company with enormous influence over politics, art, and culture across the nation and especially in the New York metropolitan area."
The new entity that acts as a gatekeeper could limit the local or independent voices to get to the slots on the media distribution system.
Adam Thierer has conveyed this concern, "The new entity will have the incentive to prioritize NBC shows over other local and independent voices and programs, making it even harder to find alternatives on the cable dial.
"[23] One of the claims is, "A combined Comcast-NBC Universal might have the unique ability to craft new business models that benefit consumers."
Facing the uncertain environment, Comcast Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, Robert Pick, still shows his determination.
In order to recover the lost revenue from content, Comcast-NBCUniversal may enhance their business on service of advertising, subscription etc.
[28] The acquisition was announced during the fourth season of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, which depicts a fictitious version of the network.
The January 27, 2011 episode "Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning", which aired the day Comcast's Steve Burke met his new NBC employees, opens with a scene depicting a Kabletown sign being installed on 30 Rockefeller Center to replace the existing neon GE sign.
[29][30] In 2014, Comcast received approval by the city of New York to perform a similar modification to the actual 30 Rock, replacing the GE lettering with signs depicting its corporate logo and the NBC peacock.