Rockefeller Statement on Comcast-NBC Joint Venture

December 3, 2009

Feature Image 5WASHINGTON, D.C.—John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today regarding Comcast and General Electric’s (GE) agreement that will combine NBC Universal businesses with Comcast cable programming, sports networks, and certain online content businesses. The new joint venture will be 51 percent owned and managed by Comcast and 49 percent owned by GE.

“I have some serious questions about the deal announced for Comcast to assume control of NBC Universal,” said Chairman Rockefeller. “A joint venture of this magnitude would benefit from regulatory oversight. When major media companies swell to control both content and distribution, we need to make sure consumers are not left with lesser content and higher rates.”

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