Comcast Completes NBC Universal purchase

[Galvan]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34247302/ns/business-media_biz/


In a deal that has been talked about since the Summer, Comcast has agreed to purchase 51% (a controlling portion) of NBC Universal. This deal also includes to the Universal Theme Parks.

[zjohn1988]

Also in the deal I believe Universal purchased the rest of the Vivendi stock..

[FParker185]

This should be interesting to see what happens at the parks when a company with a lower customer service rating than the IRS takes over.

[SFaddiction84]

Ya This can only mean bad things! Thanks for making me laugh by the way about the customer service! I hope these parks do not go down hill! Atleast Harry Potter land or what ever is already underway and wont be cancelled out!

[monsterfan99]

The parks were brought up

In a conference call to discuss its deal with General Electric Co., Comcast CEO Brian Roberts praised Universal's theme-parks division, calling it "one of just two major international theme-park brands."

"Stable, industry-leading margins, lots of cross-promotional opportunities, they recently made a significant investment in a new set of attractions around the Harry Potter world they are building at Universal in Orlando. And we will clearly benefit from these investments in an improved economy," Roberts said. "Again, a relatively small part of the business that can be poised for some nice growth."

The parks are not what is the problem. Seeing what Comcast did with Versus and Chicago sports teams is what the problem will be. Expect cable and satellite prices to go way up or NBC family of channels gone.

[Galvan]

^ I dont think you know what your talking about. First of all Versus is owned by Comcast, which means they have the right to distribute there programing and content to whatever competitor they see fit at a price they see fit. Secondly, The regional sports networks that are effected at in Philadelphia not in Chicago. And there too, Comcast owns a portion of the 76ers, Flyers and I believe allthough im not to sure the Phillies.

DirecTV has had a history of trying to lowball operators before, and this came as no surprise to people in the industry.

Now, it should be noted that I am a former Comcast employee, with a stressing on the word former. And ill also say that im not a Comcast customer either. So that should give you an idea of what I think about Comcast.


Also lets keep this topic on the Theme Park aspect of Comcast owning the parks.

[FParker185]

Honestly I don't think it's going to effect the parks much if at all. The Theme Parks seem to be run as their own semi-independent division, so all that's going to change is instead of GE telling the park what their annual budget is it will be Comcast. I doubt anything will change drastically. If something changes I'm going to agree with what Monsterfan said, The various NBC networks will get the brunt of it.

[zjohn1988]

GE has their own set of rules and guidelines for us and I would expect to see Comcast revamp the employee handbook to their specs.