Federal authorities must impose conditions on Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, as it seeks to merge with NBC Universal creating a $30 billion media colossus, public interest groups and others said Monday. Several of the groups said they oppose the deal "as its stands today."
Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks aren't the only ones celebrating their Stanley Cup victory. NBC Sports says the game that decided the National Hockey League champion attracted an overnight rating of 5.8 and a 10 share, the best showing in 36 years.
NBC is debuting a slew of new shows this fall in hopes of climbing out of the ratings cellar. But judging from previews offered at today's upfront presentation, none of these will be the hit that restores the network to the glory days of Seinfeld and Friends.
History was made last night, when Miss Michigan, Rima Fakih, became the first Arab American to win Miss USA . But will history be made tomorrow when The Nielsen Company release's the ratings for last nights' pageant?
NBC did serious harm to Jay Leno's public image when it tossed out its late-night succession plan in January. The number of people who view Leno unfavorably rose dramatically in the weeks after the network said it was moving him from 10 p.m. back to 11:30, displacing Conan O'Brien.
During questioning on Capitol Hill, the heads of Comcast and NBC Universal denied that their $30 billion merger would be anti-competitive and lead to layoffs. But critics were unswayed, with one going as far as to say the deal would "undermine American democracy."
Led by Senator Al Franken, lawmakers Thursday clashed with top execs at Comcast and NBC Universal over their claim that the media giants' merger would benefit the public. Despite calling for "strong conditions," legislators seemed likely to let the deal go through.
Comcast is the Rodney Dangerfield of media companies. Yesterday, the Philadelphia firm reported that fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled. How did Wall Street respond? It sent Comcast's shares down.
The cable giant tells the federal government that its proposed merger with NBC Universal will benefit the public. That claim was immediately denounced by critics, including one consumer advocacy group that called the argument "positively Orwellian."
The sniping among late night comedians has intensified over the last few days, as millionaire entertainers jostle for position in the great Jay Leno - Conan O'Brien conflict. A lot of fingers are pointing at one side or another, but the real blame lies with the NBC executive who started the whole thing.
NBC Universal chairman Jeff Zucker is spending $40 million of General Electric's money to get rid of Conan O'Brien. NBC was contractually bound to give O'Brien $40 million if it canceled the show -- but it also buys Zucker a non-disparagement clause from the late-night comic.
NBC Universal's chairman failed to anticipate that Jay Leno wouldn't want to take early retirement, or how audiences would turn him off in prime time. Now he's preparing to demote O'Brien to coddle Leno, whose best days are clearly behind him.
NBC has got quite a mountain to climb after the disastrous Jay Leno Show experiment. But getting consumers to give a second chance to a product they've stopped using is one of the biggest challenges in marketing.
NBC executives appear ready to move Jay Leno back to late night TV. The Leno disaster, which will cost the network tens of millions of dollars, was avoidable, and will likely be discussed in business schools for decades to come.
The Lala purchase and an iTunes overhaul could tighten Apple's already dominant stranglehold on the music industry's digital-downloading segment. Apple may see a fundamental shift in technology, and it's trying to get out in front.