Were you hoping to catch the big game on Sunday night between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions on NBC, a game that has major playoff implications? Or perhaps you wanted to settle down and tune in while some Real Housewives stars throw wine at each other on Bravo? If you’re one of 16 million or so Charter Spectrum customers, your plans might be foiled by a contract dispute between the cable company and NBCUniversal. [More]
nbc universal
Dish Sues NBC For Blabbing Publicly About Looming Blackout
By 3.15.16
It’s not uncommon for TV networks and pay-TV operators to get into very public spats about contract negotiations and looming blackouts, but the folks at Dish say that NBCUniversal crossed the line this week in going public about its ongoing contract dispute with the satellite company. [More]
Comcast Should Pay You For Sitting Through All Its Product Placement In Sharknado 3
By 7.21.15
If you’re one of the 1,743 people who are still amused by the whole Sharknado phenomenon, then you should consider yourself warned that the latest entry into the self-consciously trashy TV franchise is apparently not much more than an extended commercial for numerous Comcast-owned brands. [More]
Comcast Makes Money Off Everest University Ads, Even As Schools Are Being Sold Or Closed
By 7.31.14
Earlier this summer, facing lawsuits and investigations from multiple state and federal agencies, Corinthian Colleges Inc. struck a deal with the U.S. Dept. of Education to either sell off or wind-down most its schools, including Everest University, WyoTech, and Heald College. Yet Corinthian continues to plague the airways with ads, enticing potential students into enrolling in schools that may not exist in a few months. And guess who is making money off the ads? The folks at Comcast. [More]
Is Comcast The 21st Century Version Of Standard Oil?
By 12.26.12
More than 100 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil had become an “unreasonable” monopoly and broke the mega-company up into dozens of smaller ones. With America’s growing reliance on the Internet and high-speed data transmission, is it time to put companies like Comcast and AT&T under the antitrust microscope? [More]
This Polo Shirt Is Not Up To Buy More's Exacting Standards
By 2.16.11
Even if a shirt is purchased as part of a joke, it should hold up to multiple wearings and washings, right? Michael ordered a polo shirt with the Buy More store logo from the NBC series “Chuck.” The shirt is clearly defective, with a seam under the front buttons already unraveling, but NBC is holding firm: they won’t exchange the shirt for a non-defective one. What would Big Mike say? [More]
Will The Strings Attached To Comcast/NBC Deal Be Effective?
By 1.19.11
Both the FCC and the Justice Department have effectively cleared the way for Comcast (aka, that cable company from Philadelphia) to own a majority of NBC Universal, but the regulators did so with several strings attached to the deal. But the question remains: Will these rules do anything to protect consumers? [More]
FCC Approves Comcast/NBC Deal
By 1.18.11
It’s time to break out your favorite wedding clothes. The FCC has given its blessing to the marriage of Comcast — the reigning Worst Company In America — and NBC Universal. [More]
The 'Cable Constrictor' Hits The Streets To Warn People About Comcast/NBC Deal
By 11.30.10
As we told you earlier today, our brethren at Consumers Union have launched a public awareness campaign to alert consumers about the risks of the proposed sale of NBC Universal to Comcast. And as part of this campaign, CU’s Cable Constrictor moving billboard wended its way around Capitol Hill this morning. [More]
Consumers Union Asks You To Say No To Comcast/NBC Deal
By 11.30.10
With the clock still ticking on the proposed purchase of NBC Universal by Comcast, our benevolent benefactors at Consumers Union has launched a new website and advertising campaign to step up its efforts to alert the public to the perils of the deal. [More]
Comcast Political Giving Up 61% Since Announcing NBC Deal
By 10.19.10
Since reaching a deal to buy NBC Universal in Dec. 2009, Comcast has increased its PAC contributions to election campaigns by 61% over the amount it gave in the same period leading up to the 2008 elections. [More]
FCC Questions Slow Down NBC/Comcast Merger Express
By 10.5.10
Unlike the recent United/Continental merger, which blazed through its regulatory hurdles like something that goes really fast through something else, the marriage of NBC Universal and Comcast isn’t moving as speedily. Yesterday, the FCC hit both bride and groom with a handful of questions it wants answered before giving its blessing to the union. [More]
Christian Groups Want To Know How Much Comcast Makes From Porn
By 6.28.10
As the government continues to pretend that it cares what anyone thinks about Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal, a coalition of Christian media watchdog groups are asking the cable giant to publicly divulge how much money it makes from porn channels and pay-per-view. [More]
Al Franken Hates The NBC/Comcast Merger More Than Anyone Has Ever Hated Anything
By 6.24.10
Former NBC employee and current US Senator, Al Franken, has filed an 11-page letter of concern with the FCC stating that he “firmly believe[s] that the ComcastINBCU merger should be rejected. The harms caused by this merger are significant and long lasting. No set of promises or conditions, no matter how well-intentioned, can sufficiently mitigate those harms.” [More]
NBC And Comcast Get Financing For The Mergepocalypse
By 3.25.10
Reuters is reporting that NBC and Comcast have secured financing for their proposed merger. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. [More]
Comcast Celebrates Conquest Of NBC With Gifts Of Sh*tty DVDs
By 12.16.09
Christmas has come early to the employees of Comcast! A reader who is also a Comcastployee tells Consumerist that received a package at home yesterday which contained a letter from current and former CEOs Ralph and Brian Roberts, and some thoughtful gifts. To honor the looming Comcast/NBC Universal mergerpocalypse, the Robertses presented Comcast employees with two of the hottest DVDs in the Universal catalog: fullscreen copies of “Kindergarten Cop” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Aww, you shouldn’t have! [More]
Why A Comcast/NBC Merger Is Bad News
By 12.3.09
As the Comcast/NBC mergepocalypse draws near, we wanted to remind readers of the ways that this is going to harm consumers (beyond the obvious things like 30 Rock being promised to come on between 6 and 10 pm and actually airing at 11:30). Join us for a sad look into the future. [More]
Comcast One Step Closer To Owning NBC Universal
By 12.1.09
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Vivendi has negotiated a tentative $5.8 billion deal to sell its minority stake in NBC Universal to General Electric Co. This means that GE is closer to being able to sell NBC to Comcast. [More]
