Understanding the Comcast/NBCU merger

Hour 1

Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved the merger of the country’s largest cable operator, Philadelphia’s Comcast Corporation, and broadcasting company NBC Universal. The FCC tacked on several unprecedented conditions (pdf) that it says should keep Comcast from unfairly privileging the content its acquiring over that of competitors, while the Justice Department vowed to protect the growing online-video industry led by Netflix, which is challenging Comcast in a key battleground for our entertainment dollar. Joining us on today’s Radio Times to help explain the deal will be the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Consumer columnist JEFF GELLES. We’ll also hear from MARK COOPER, research director for the Consumer Federation of America. And we’ll also hear from JOHN NICHOLS, Washington correspondent for The Nation, co-founder of the advocacy group Free Press, and one of fiercest critics of the merger – and the FCC’s approval of it.

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[audio: 013111_100630.mp3]