Groups Urge FCC To Block NBC-Comcast Merger

GovTechGuy writes "A coalition of media companies, labor groups and privacy advocates have combined to urge the FCC to block the proposed merger of NBC Universal and cable giant Comcast. In a letter sent to the FCC Monday (PDF), the groups argue the new $30 billion entity would have unprecedented control over the media landscape, raising antitrust concerns. Among the threats listed are the potential for the new media giant to violate net neutrality and favor its own content both on television and online."

Re:I'm not worried

[Monkeedude1212]

So you're among the very few people who exist on the internet who don't access any of the regular forms of entertainment. Even I don't watch TV but given the movies I've SEEN in my lifetime let alone what I may want to see in the future, its nearly impossible to miss universal studios. Even if I had somehow managed to dodge every VCR, DVD, and Blu-ray in the world and never visitted a movie theatre I would have somehow played one of the video games loosely based off of one of their movies.

And all of its really a moot point though - even if YOU aren't DIRECTLY affected, perhaps half of your friends are affected by NBC and with anti-trust media practices you'll get very 1 sided opinions forming, so you'll either have to ditch half your friends for being narrow minded, or you'll have to be annoyed by your friends every time they're around, or you and your friends will become the social outcasts of society. You know the kinds, who don't work well with others in the work-place because they can't talk about current events and if they do, they upset other people when they tell them they are wrong, and it won't matter if you're right because your manager will get pissed that you are refuting the very facts they believe coming from their "trusted source". It's like if you don't jump on board you're "That guy" that no one wants to invite out to lunch.

However, if you live under a rock, like to play chess by yourself by torchlight, and only visit the internet by tapping binary into a magnetic rock that sends signals to an access point, than you probably won't be affected by this merger too much.

Re:Have to admire their gusto

[AndersOSU]

The FTC issues reports [ftc.gov]
In the FY2008 report they tout:

One of the Commission’s notable challenges was against the consummated merger of Polypore International and Microporous Products in which the Commission asserted that the February 2008 acquisition reduced competition and raised prices in the markets for multiple types of battery separator film used in the power supplies of various vehicles and in battery backup generators. The Commission also challenged and effectively blocked the proposed merger of Inova Health System Foundation and Prince William Health System, which would have substantially harmed competition in the Northern Virginia market for general acute care inpatient hospital services.

I'm not sure if those are "mega mergers" but they're doing more than zero...

By NFL rules comcast must keep Sunday Night on ota

[Joe The Dragon]

By NFL rules comcast must keep Sunday Night on ota or at least for teams in the game and there is no why they will the let games go cable / comcast only.

Re:Makes sense to me...

[kramerd]

You're not worried about whether the railroads continue to provide good service to their customers, because that's not part of the game

Actually it is part of the game. If you own all of the railroads, it costs more to "use" them individually than if 4 different players each own one. Same with utilities or any property monopoly.