Acquisition Of NBC Universal By Comcast - Wikipedia

Business transaction held from 2009 to 2013 Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast

The logo of Comcast from late 2006 to 2013
NBCUniversal logo as of January 31, 2011
Alternate NBCUniversal logo, created after the company's takeover and featuring Comcast's updated NBC peacock logo to promote its ownership
Initiator	Comcast
Target	NBCUniversal from GE
Type	Majority stake (until March 2013) Full acquisition (from March 2013)
Cost	US$13.75 billion[1]
Initiated	December 3, 2009
Completed	January 28, 2011 (majority) March 19, 2013 (full ownership)

On December 3, 2009, telecommunications company Comcast announced its intent to acquire mass media company NBC Universal from General Electric (GE). The acquisition was subject to scrutiny from activists and government officials; their concerns primarily surrounded the potential effects of the vertical integration that the acquisition could create, as Comcast is also heavily involved in cable television and internet services in many media markets.[2] The deal went through on January 28, 2011, resulting in Comcast owning 51% of the company until March 19, 2013, when GE divested its stake to give Comcast sole ownership. Through this acquisition, Comcast gained ownership of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the film studio Universal Pictures, cable channels such as Syfy, CNBC and MSNBC, and Universal Parks & Resorts, among other assets owned by NBC Universal. It has also integrated its own cable channels – including E! and Golf Channel – into NBC Universal. As a result of the acquisition, NBC Universal slightly changed its name to "NBCUniversal", rendered in camel case, to indicate the integration between NBC and Universal Studios.[3]

History

[edit]

Background

[edit] Evolution of Comcast

1909	Independent Moving Pictures founded
1912	Universal Pictures is founded after IMP merged with smaller studios
1926	NBC is founded
1928	Walter Lantz Productions (later Universal Animation Studios) is established
1943	MCA Inc. establishes Revue Studios (later Universal Television)
1963	American Cable Systems is founded
1964	Universal Studios Hollywood opens
1968	American Cable Systems rebrands to Comcast
1975	Filmworks is founded
1976	Filmworks becomes Casablanca Record & Filmworks
1980	PolyGram renames Casablanca Record & Filmworks to PolyGram PicturesMCA Videocassette‚ Inc. (later Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) is established
1983	PolyGram Pictures closes
1984	Walter Lantz Productions' assets are sold to UniversalTelemundo is founded
1986	General Electric re-purchases its former subsidiary RCA for $6.4 billion, including NBC and a stake in A&E
1987	PolyGram Movies is founded
1989	NBC relaunches Tempo Television as CNBC
1990	Universal Studios Florida opensPolyGram Movies is renamed PolyGram Filmed EntertainmentSky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting merge to form British Sky BroadcastingUniversal Cartoon Studios (later Universal Animation Studios) is established
1994	DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation are founded
1995	Seagram acquires Universal through its acquisition of MCANBC and Microsoft replace America's Talking with MSNBC
1998	Seagram acquires PolyGram Filmed EntertainmentBarry Diller purchases Universal's domestic television assetsUniversal Television is renamed Studios USA Television
1999	PolyGram Filmed Entertainment is folded into Universal PicturesPolyGram Video is renamed USA Home EntertainmentUniversal Studios Florida expands to become Universal Orlando Resort
2000	Seagram is sold to Vivendi and merged with StudioCanal to become Vivendi Universal Entertainment
2001	Grand opening of Universal Studios JapanVivendi purchases Studios USA
2002	NBC acquires Telemundo and BravoStudios USA assets are folded into UniversalFocus Features is formedComcast acquires AT&T Broadband for $44.5 billion
2004	GE and Vivendi merge NBC and Universal into NBCUniversal
2005	Comcast sets up a joint-venture with PBS, Sesame Workshop & HIT Entertainment to form PBS Kids SproutComcast & Time Warner Cable jointly acquire Adelphia Cable assets for $17.6 billion
2007	Illumination is founded
2011	Vivendi divests interest in NBCU; Comcast buys 51% of NBCU from GE, turning it into a limited liability companyNBCUniversal Archives is founded
2012	NBCUniversal divests its A&E Networks minority stake
2013	Comcast buys GE's remaining 49% of NBCUComcast/NBCU assumes full ownership of Sprout
2015	Amblin Partners is founded
2016	NBCU acquires DreamWorks Animation
2017	NBCU acquires a minority stake in Amblin PartnersSprout relaunches as Universal Kids
2018	Comcast acquires Sky from 21st Century Fox
2020	NBCU launches Peacock
2026	Versant is spun off to Comcast shareholders
v t e

Comcast was, at the time, the largest cable television provider in the United States. It also owned a number of major cable networks, including E!, Golf Channel, and Versus. In 2004, Comcast attempted a hostile takeover of The Walt Disney Company for $41 billion, which would have made Comcast the world's largest media conglomerate, if approved. The deal fell through, however; Comcast's motivation for the deal was centered around gaining control of ESPN, which a Comcast executive described as "the most important and valuable asset" in Disney's portfolio. The same year, General Electric (GE) acquired an 80% stake in Universal Studios from Vivendi, merging it into NBC to form NBC Universal. By 2009, NBC Universal's financial performance had struggled due in part to the poor performance of recent Universal Studios' productions, and NBC ranked fourth at the time among the major broadcast television networks in the United States. By contrast, some of NBC Universal's cable networks (such as MSNBC, Syfy, and USA Network) were reporting steady gains in viewership. After the failed Disney deal, Comcast focused on its existing networks (along with its Comcast SportsNet regional sports networks), and acquired a stake in the film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).[4][5]

Proposal

[edit]

Negotiations between Comcast and NBC Universal for a potential acquisition began as early as March 2009; News Corporation and Time Warner were also reportedly interested in purchasing NBC Universal. By September 2009, Comcast had negotiated a purchase of a stake in NBC Universal from GE, but the overall deal was held up by negotiations with Vivendi for the sale of its 20% stake to GE.[4] On December 3, 2009, Comcast and NBC Universal confirmed a $6.5 billion deal to merge the two companies, pending approval from the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division; the deal would be structured as sale of Vivendi's stake in the company to GE for $5.8 billion, followed by Comcast acquiring a 51% controlling stake of NBC Universal, and contributing its existing media properties to the company, themselves valued at $7.25 billion. As a result, NBC Universal would become a joint venture between Comcast and GE, with Comcast holding a 51% majority stake. As a whole, the deal valued NBC Universal at $30 billion. The deal included an option for General Electric to sell further stakes in the company to Comcast over seven years, or for Comcast to buy stakes at "specified times". Jeff Zucker was to remain CEO of NBC Universal after the acquisition, and remain headquartered in New York, but would report to Comcast.[1]

Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts described the deal as a "perfect fit" for the company, as Comcast would be able to bolster its role as a creator and distributor of content, with a particular emphasis on "[the] multiplatform ‘anytime, anywhere’ media that American consumers are demanding"; increasing access to NBC-owned content through various platforms. The deal would also add Comcast's cable channels to NBCU's existing suite of cable networks, contributing to 82% of the merged company's total revenue. Despite the focus on cable, Comcast promised to remain committed to over-the-air broadcasting and promised an increased amount of local news, children's programming, and Spanish language programming across various platforms, including over-the-air.[6] GE's CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt justified the deal, citing a desire to move purely back into the industrial sector, and was also motivated by the Great Recession.[1]

The deal was subject to the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); due to the magnitude of the agreement, it was placed under heavy scrutiny by the commission, which held hearings on the deal and its effects on the public's access to media.[1]

Opposition

[edit]

The acquisition was opposed by several media activists, particularly those who were against vertical integration. Free Press argued that Comcast would use the deal to stifle competition in online video by restricting where NBC-owned content can be offered, and charging higher rates to television providers for accessing NBC-owned networks, having to pass these charges on to consumers.[6][7] There were concerns from the owners of NBC's affiliates, who urged the FCC to require that Comcast maintain NBC programming on over-the-air television, and not move it exclusively to cable. Several competing internet service and television providers urged the FCC to place conditions on Comcast if the deal were to be approved, including requiring that Comcast adhere to the principles of net neutrality, offer wholesale access to its broadband services, and place limits on how Comcast can leverage its NBC-owned stations in retransmission consent negotiations to inhibit competition. AOL proposed that the FCC enforce its program access rules for Comcast's online video content as well, requiring the provider to offer it to competitors at a fair rate. By June 22, 2010, over 32,000 comments about the deal had been sent to the FCC.[8]

Approval and closure of acquisition

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On January 18, 2011, the FCC and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the acquisition. Four months later, Meredith Attwell Baker, the FCC commissioner who approved the deal, was hired as a lobbyist by Comcast.[9] Upon the completion of the acquisition, which took place on January 28, NBC Universal was slightly renamed to "NBCUniversal", with the change intended to reflect "unity" between NBC and Universal Studios.[3] Comcast and GE formed the joint venture holding company NBCUniversal, LLC on the same day.[10] NBC Universal, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of the holding company and was renamed NBCUniversal Media, LLC on January 29.[11]

Comcast agreed to offer an internet service plan for qualifying low-income families for at least three years as part of the acquisition. The plan, "Internet Essentials", initially offered a 1.5-megabit connection for $9.95 per month (increased to 5 megabits in 2013)[12] with no activation or equipment fees, as well as an opportunity to purchase a discounted netbook and receive free "internet training".[13] Of an estimated 2.60 million households eligible for the program, about 0.22 million households participated in the program as of June 2013.[14][15][16] Comcast stated that the program would accept new customers for the duration of the mandate.[13] In March 2014, as he met with FCC concerning a proposal to acquire Time Warner Cable, Comcast vice president David Cohen told reporters that the Internet Essentials program would be extended indefinitely.[17]

Comcast intended to buy out the rest of GE's stake in NBCUniversal over the following seven years. Ownership remained split at 51%–49% for two years, and later, on February 12, 2013, Comcast announced its intention to complete the purchase all at once and assume 100% ownership of the company by the end of March.[18][19] The deal was officially completed on March 19.[20]

Scale of new company

[edit]

The merger expanded Comcast's scale significantly; Comcast's position as a cable television provider produced vertical integration with its ownership of NBC Universal's broadcast television and cable networks, while Comcast's existing cable networks (which consisted of E!, Style Network, PBS Kids Sprout, G4, Golf Channel, and Versus) and regional sports networks were horizontally integrated with the television properties of NBC Universal. Mark Leccese of The Boston Globe noted that the combined company consisted of "10 TV and movie production studios (including Universal Pictures), 20 cable channels, 11 regional broadcast TV stations, 15 Telemundo stations, nine regional sports cable networks, one regional news cable station (New England Cable News), a whole bunch of websites, two pro sports teams in Philadelphia and two arenas, a food service vendor, a ticket agency, and four theme parks. And some other stuff."[21]

Influence

[edit]

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The video marketplace has changed structurally with or without the Comcast-NBCUniversal acquisition. More and more videos, programs, and advertisements are displayed on the Internet, not the traditional media channel, television. As a result, the video business model has gradually changed as time goes by. Comcast has reached such a significant scale that it now owns many media and entertainment properties. However, facing the uncertainty of the video marketplace, many people proposed their concerns:

Impact on the video market

[edit]

One of the claims is "Comcast would be able to use its vertically integrated position to deny rival distributors access to programming or to raise the cost of that programming". Comcast-NBC will face two rival distributors – the satellite and telephone company and the new entrant. Of course, both of them worry about the domination that Comcast-NBCUniversal may be capable of establishing and the entry barrier. The big challenge for the satellite and telephone company is to find a new business model to convince the programmers that their model will benefit them more than Comcast-NBCUniversal. However, Comcast-NBCUniversal also keeps improving its business model, which is unhappy to the new entrant.

The other claim is that "Comcast will use the merger to change NBC into a cable network, at the expense of local programming". Some observers predict that Comcast may convert NBC to a cable network. They think that Comcast must have to make some changes because NBC broadcast station traditionally has only one revenue path, the advertising;[22]

Impact on competition, diversity, and localism of media company

[edit]

The three major topics are media ownership, competition, diversity, and localism. Once two or more media companies amalgamated, such as in the case of the merger of News Corp/DirecTV and Sirius XM, many critics suggested that a merged company with too much power will harm the competition, diversity of the media marketplace and even the democracy of this country. Some of them directly called it "merger to monopoly". FCC Commissioner Copps once said, "It will create a single company with enormous influence over politics, art, and culture across the nation and especially in the New York metropolitan area." Localism may also be affected by this merger. The new entity that acts as a gatekeeper could limit the local or independent voices to get to the slots on the media distribution system. Adam Thierer has conveyed this concern, "The new entity will have the incentive to prioritize NBC shows over other local and independent voices and programs, making it even harder to find alternatives on the cable dial."[23]

Benefits to shareholders and consumers

[edit]

One of the claims is, "A combined Comcast-NBC Universal might have the unique ability to craft new business models that benefit consumers." With new digital technologies to distribute videos, advertising revenues have yet to be generated in the new market. Therefore, these enterprise operators must find a new business model to make the revenues financially available. Facing the uncertain environment, Comcast Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, Robert Pick, still shows his determination. He says, "the combination would ameliorate the negotiations friction that had made it difficult for Comcast, primarily a distribution and communications company, to convince content owners and programmers to work with us to create and deliver more content to consumers in a greater variety of ways."[24]

Impact on price of video markets

[edit]

Many observers, such as journalist Adam Thierer, predict that the price of distributing videos were going to fall dramatically in the near future because three distribution products of Comcast (broadcasting, television, and internet) are all merging into the network. Wall Street Journal business columnist Holman Jenkins said that "customers want the product for free. Comcast's lifeblood, the $100-a-month cable bill and the $50-a-month broadband bill, increasingly look like duplicative expenses. And so on." In order to recover the lost revenue from content, Comcast-NBCUniversal may enhance their business on service of advertising, subscription etc.[25]

On-air effects

[edit]

The first major on-air effects of the deal occurred in February 2011, when Comcast began to align its sports properties with the NBC Sports division; the Comcast Sports Group was renamed NBC Sports Group, with Mark Lazarus, formerly the head of Turner Entertainment Group, heading its cable networks.[26] NBC Sports talent could now appear on Comcast networks such as Golf Channel; NBC's golf coverage was re-branded as Golf Channel on NBC beginning at the 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.[27] On August 1, 2011, Comcast announced that its Versus network would be renamed NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012, to directly align it with NBC Sports.[28]

The NBC sitcom 30 Rock (which depicts a fictionalized version of the network) referenced the merger via a recurring storyline in its fourth season, which saw the Philadelphia-based cable company Kabletown similarly acquire the in-universe NBC from GE; the January 27, 2011 episode "Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning", which aired the day Comcast's Steve Burke met his new NBC employees, opens with a scene depicting a Kabletown sign being installed on 30 Rockefeller Center to replace the existing neon GE sign,. The subsequent episode "¡Qué Sorpresa!" introduced Kabletown's CEO Hank Hooper (Ken Howard) as an equivalent to Comcast's Ralph J. Roberts.[29][30][31]

In 2014, Comcast received approval by the city of New York to perform a similar modification to the actual 30 Rock, replacing the GE lettering with signs depicting its corporate logo and the NBC peacock.[32]

See also

[edit]

• Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, a corporate act of The Walt Disney Company which acquired the majority of 21st Century Fox assets, mostly film, television studios and entertainment pay television channels.
• 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom, a media merger deal that combined the operations of CBS Corporation and Viacom, which had previously split in 2005, into a new company called ViacomCBS (now Paramount Skydance).
• Merger of Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile US
• Concentration of media ownership

Further reading

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• Columbia Journalism Review "Who Owns What" webpage
• Free Press's "Ownership Chart: The Big Six."

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Tim, Arango (December 3, 2009). "G.E. Makes It Official: NBC Will Go to Comcast". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
2. ^ Tim Barwell (October 3, 2009). "Comcast, NBC Deal Faces Financial, Legal Obstacles, WSJ Reports". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
3. ^ a b Stelter, Brian (January 27, 2011). "Lost in the Comcast Takeover? A Logo's Peacock". Media Decoder Blog. The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
4. ^ a b David Goldman and Julianne Pepitone (December 3, 2009). "GE, Comcast announce NBC Universal joint venture deal". CNN Money. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
5. ^ Larry Eichel (February 22, 2004). "ESPN is a big factor in bid for Disney Comcast..." The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
6. ^ a b Newman, Jared (January 28, 2010). "Comcast, NBC Acquisition: Pros and Cons for You". PC World. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
7. ^ "Opponents Line Up Against Proposed Comcast/NBC Merger". DailyFinance. AOL. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
8. ^ "Comcast Rivals, Partners Seek Conditions on NBC Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
9. ^ Anderson, Nate (May 11, 2011). "After approving NBC buyout, FCC Commish becomes Comcast lobbyist". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
10. ^ Colchester, Max (January 27, 2011). "Vivendi Wraps Up Sale of NBC Universal Stake". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
11. ^ "Summary of GENERAL ELECTRIC CO - Yahoo! Finance". Yahoo! Finance. May 19, 2011. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
12. ^ Mike Rogoway (September 12, 2013). "Comcast boosts speeds for low-cost Internet service for low-income families". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
13. ^ a b David Murphy (August 7, 2011). "Comcast Launches Low-Cost Internet for Low-Income Families". PC Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
14. ^ "SECOND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT ON INTERNET ESSENTIALS(pp 10)" (PDF). Comcast. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
15. ^ Brad Tuttle (September 20, 2012). "Why Aren't More Families Signing Up for Cheap Internet Service?". Time. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
16. ^ Chozick, Amy (January 20, 2013). "Mixed Response to Comcast in Expanding Net Access". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
17. ^ Todd Shields (March 4, 2014). "Comcast Pledges Low-Cost Web as It Meets on Time Warner". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
18. ^ Nakashima, Ryan (February 12, 2013). "Comcast to buy GE's 49 pct stake in NBCUniversal". MSN. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
19. ^ Chozick, Amy; Stelter, Brian (February 12, 2013). "Comcast Buys Rest of NBC in Early Sale". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
20. ^ Lieberman, David (March 19, 2013). "Comcast Completes Acquisition Of GE's 49% Stake In NBCUniversal". Deadline. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
21. ^ Leccese, Mark (January 19, 2011). "Comcast/NBC merger: Trouble or trivia?". Boston.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
22. ^ Goldfarb, Charles B. (February 2010). The Proposed Comcast-NBCUniversal Combination: How It Might Affect the Video Market. Congressional Research Service. p. 21.
23. ^ Thierer, Adam (December 2009). "A Brief History of Media Merger Hysteria: From AOL-Time Warner to Comcast-NBC". Progress on Point. 16: 5–8.
24. ^ Goldfarb, Charles B. (February 2010). The Proposed Comcast-NBCUniversal Combination: How It Might Affect the Video Market. Congressional Research Service. p. 29.
25. ^ Thierer, Adam (December 2009). "A Brief History of Media Merger Hysteria: From AOL-Time Warner to Comcast-NBC". Progress on Point. 16: 10.
26. ^ Weinstein, Joshua L. (February 2, 2011). "Mark Lazarus to Head NBC Sports Group's Executive Team". The Wrap. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
27. ^ Reynolds, Mike. "Golf Channel, NBC Tee Off As Playing Partners With WGC Tourney". Multichannel News. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
28. ^ Fernadez, Bob. "Goodbye Versus, hello NBC Sports Network". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
29. ^ "Kabletown Eerily Takes Over 30 Rock the Same Day Comcast Takes Over NBC". NY Mag. January 27, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
30. ^ Legaspi, Althea (March 24, 2016). "'30 Rock,' 'White Shadow' Actor Ken Howard Dead at 71". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
31. ^ Smith, Caitlan (January 28, 2011). "'30 Rock': Mel Gibson Telethons and Reality TV". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
32. ^ Carter, Bill (November 24, 2014). "Jimmy Fallon's Name Goes on 30 Rock Marquee". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

v t e Comcast
Comcast Cable	Xfinity Xfinity Streampix Comcast Business Comcast Technology Solutions HITS thePlatform Xumo
Spectacor	Philadelphia Flyers Maine Mariners Xfinity Mobile Arena New South Philadelphia Arena Spectra ComcastTIX T1 (32%)
Media assets	v t e NBCUniversal A division of Comcast Predecessors MCA Inc. PolyGram RCA Seagram Company Ltd. Vivendi Universal Executives Dick Ebersol Bonnie Hammer Donna Langley Steve Burke Pearlena Igbokwe Noah Oppenheim Cesar Conde Studio Group Universal FilmedEntertainment Group Universal Pictures Back Lot Music DreamWorks Animation Focus Features Illumination NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan United International Pictures* Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Universal Animation Studios Working Title Films Amblin Partners Amblin Entertainment DreamWorks Pictures UniversalStudio Group Universal Television Universal Content Productions Universal International Studios Carnival Films Matchbox Pictures DreamWorks Animation Television DreamWorks Classics Big Idea Entertainment Bullwinkle Studios* Harvey Entertainment Destinations& Experiences Group United States Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk Universal Orlando Universal Studios Florida Islands of Adventure CityWalk Epic Universe Universal Horror Unleashed Universal Kids Resort International Universal Studios Japan Universal Studios Singapore Universal Beijing Resort Universal Studios Beijing Universal Studios Delhi (planned) Universal United Kingdom (planned) Media Group Television networks NBC Bravo Streaming Hayu Peacock PictureBox Films Fandango Media (70%) Fandango at Home NBCSports Group NBC Olympics NBC Sports Ventures Alli NBC Sports Digital NBC Sports NBCSN part owner MLB Network NHL Network Regional Networks Bay Area (45%) Boston California Philadelphia SNY (8%) InternationalNetworks v t e NBCUniversal International Networks A division of NBCUniversal Asia DreamWorks Channel Golf Channel (Indonesia) Studio Universal (Philippines) Australia & New Zealand Bravo New Zealand Australia Universal TV Australia New Zealand Europe, Middle East and Africa 13th Street France Germany Spain Poland DreamWorks Diva E! Golf Channel Movies 24 Syfy France Germany Poland Balkans Portugal Spain Studio Universal Telemundo Africa Universal TV Germany Latin America & Brazil Universal TV E! Golf Channel Studio Universal USA Network Telemundo Internacional DreamWorks Channel Universal+ (outside of Brazil) Canada (licensed) Bravo E! Oxygen USA Network Defunct 13th Street Netherlands and Flanders 13th Street Australia Diva TV Diva Universal Italy Diva Asia E! Asia E! Australia and New Zealand Hallmark Channel International Hallmark Channel Benelux & Scandinavia KidsCo Sci Fi Romania Steel Style Network Australia Syfy Netherlands and Flanders Syfy Russia Syfy Asia Syfy Australia Syfy Latin America Universal Channel Greece Universal Channel Poland Universal Channel Turkey Universal Channel Japan Universal Channel Asia Universal TV UK & Ireland Other assets Distribution Domestic International Telemundo Enterprises Telemundo Puerto Rico Studios Telemundo Studios Universo Telemundo Deportesw/NBC Sports Group Noticias Telemundo Local Group O&Os NBC OwnedTV Stations KNBC KNSD KNTV KXAS-TV WBTS-CD WCAU WMAQ-TV WNBC WRC-TV WTVJ WVIT K15CU-D KTEL-TV Other properties Cozi TV NBC LX NBC LX Home NECN TelemundoStation Group KASA-TV/KTEL-CD/KUPT KBLR KCSO KDEN-TV KHRR KNSO KSTS KTAZ KTDO KTLM KTMD KTMW KUAN KVDA KVEA KXTX-TV WKAQ-TV WNEU WNJU WRDM-CD/WDMR-LP WRIW-CD WRMD-CD WRTD-CD WSCV WSNS-TV WTMO-CD WWSI WWDT-CD WYCN-LD WZTD-LD WZDC-CD Other properties: TeleXitos Other units Affiliate relations NBC Telemundo EMKA, Ltd. International Media Distribution News Group Main divisions NBC News NBCNews.com NBC Out NBC News Now Former/defunctproperties Current assets of Versant 13th Street (Australia) A&E Networks (A&E)* Canal+ Group Castle Films Chapman Entertainment Chiller Chiller Films CIC Video Cloo Comcast Network Craftsy Diva Diva Universal (Italy) E! (Asia) Entertainment Rights Esquire Network Fearnet Filmation FilmDistrict G4 Good Machine Gramercy Pictures Hallmark Channel (international) ITC Entertainment Interscope Communications Miss Universe* Multimedia Entertainment NBBC NBC Sports (Chicago (25%) Northwest) NBC Weather Plus October Films Olympic Channel Pacific Data Images Peacock Productions PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Propaganda Films Savoy Pictures SBS CNBC Shift Seeso Spencer Gifts Style Network (Australia) Syfy (Asia) Syfy (Australia) Tell-Tale Productions The Entertainment Channel* Total Television UPA Universal Channel (Asia) Universal Channel (Greece) Universal Channel (Japan) Universal Channel (Poland) Universal Kids Universal TV (UK and Ireland) Universal Interactive Universal Music Group Universal Channel (Turkey) Vivendi Universal Games Walter Lantz Productions Western Publishing Gold Key Comics Whitman Publishing Golden Books Family Entertainment Golden Book Video Woodland Animations ZGS Communications Related History of NBC History of NBC Sports Report on Chain Broadcasting (1941) National Broadcasting Co. v. United States (1943) * Denotes joint ventures v t e Sky Group A subsidiary of Comcast UK and Ireland Channels Challenge Sky Arts Sky Atlantic Sky Cinema Sky Comedy Sky Crime Sky Documentaries Sky Kids Sky Max Sky Mix Sky Nature Sky News Sky Sci-Fi Sky Showcase Sky Sports Box Office F1 News Sky Witness Defunct channels Now Galaxy The Power Station The Sports Channel The Comedy Channel Sky Arts Sky 2 The Movie Channel Sky Scottish Sky Soap .tv PremPlus Sky News Ireland The Amp Sky One Sky Travel Sky Real Lives Sky Replay Bravo 2 Challenge Jackpot Channel One Sky Living Loves Sky 3D Real Lives Merit Joint ventures Sky Sports Racing A&E Networks UK History H2 Blaze Crime & Investigation Ginx TV Paramount UK Partnership Comedy Central Extra Sky News Arabia Defunct JVs A&E Networks UK Lifetime Bio Defunct magazines Sky Magazine Sky Kids Other Amstrad Diagonal View Freesat from Sky On Demand Sky Sports Active Digibox Minidish Sky+ HD Sky Q Sky Betting & Gaming Sky Broadband Sky Active Sky Go Sky News Radio Sky Store Sky Text Sky Vision Now The Cloud Open.... Sky Multichannels Germany and Austria Channels Sky One Sky Atlantic Sky Cinema Sky Krimi Sky Crime Sky Sport Sky Sport News Sky Sport Bundesliga Sky Sport F1 Defunct Sky 3D Sky Arts Sky Select Sky Comedy Other Sky Store Italy Channels Sky Uno Sky Arte Sky Atlantic Sky Cinema Due Sky Meteo 24 Sky Primafila Sky Sport Sky Sport F1 Sky Sport MotoGP Sky Sport 24 Sky Calcio Sky TG24 Cielo TV8 Sky Documentaries Sky Investigation Sky Nature Sky Serie Defunct Sky Vivo Sky Show Sky 3D Sky Music Sky Radio History Timeline Criticisms British Satellite Broadcasting Sky Television (1984–1990) Living TV Group Former joint ventures & properties Australian News Channel Granada Sky Broadcasting Japan Sky Broadcasting Sky México SKY Brasil Stream TV See also Sky Campus Sky Studios Jupiter Entertainment (60%) Love Productions Sky España Sky Switzerland
Other holdings	Current Comcast Ventures Fandango Media (70%) Leisure Arts Midco (49%) Former Comcast Entertainment TV GuideWorks Plaxo G4 Defunct Hot Choice In Demand (33.3%)
Related	Comcast Corp. v. FCC (2010) Comcast Corp. v. Behrend (2013)
See also: Acquisition of NBC Universal