[A2k] FW: Free Press: Comcast-NBC Mega-Merger Must Be Stopped

[Manon Ress]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]


November 30, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Moira Vahey, 202-265-1490 x 31

Free Press: Comcast-NBC Mega-Merger Must Be Stopped

Deal Would Pave Way to Unprecedented Consolidation Across Industry

WASHINGTON =97 On Monday, GE reportedly reached an agreement to buy out
Vivendi's share of NBC Universal. The deal would clear the way for
Comcast to take a controlling stake in NBCU and open the door to a new
era of media consolidation that reaches across content creation and
distribution, giving one company enormous power over TV and Internet
content.

Comcast is the largest cable company and residential Internet service
provider in the United States. NBC Universal has a huge stake in
television, film, cable and TV programming, and in Hulu, one of the
largest online video services.

Free Press has launched a campaign at www.freepress.net/comcast to
oppose the planned merger. The group is rallying public opposition and
pressuring the Obama administration, the Justice Department and
federal regulators to block any deal that would harm consumers.

Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, made the following
statement:

"Washington and Wall Street want the public to think this is a done
deal. But it=92s time for policymakers to stop putting the narrow
interests of big corporations ahead of what=92s best for the American
people."

"The American public doesn=92t want a media behemoth controlling the
programming they watch and how they can access it. If Washington
allows this deal to go through, Comcast will have unprecedented
control of marquee content and three major distribution platforms:
Internet, broadcast and cable. We=92ve never seen this kind of
consolidated control."

"Approval of such a merger would trigger a new wave of mega-mergers,
as other giants like News Corp. and Disney bulk up to exert more
control over new media. We don=92t have to speculate about what this
would mean for consumers. Decades of disastrous media consolidation
have already given us higher prices, fewer independent and local
voices, and the same cookie-cutter content wherever we go."

"The Obama administration must follow through on its pledge to fight
media consolidation and stand up for media diversity. Regulators must
uphold antitrust law, block any such deal, and put an end to the era
of anything-goes government oversight that led to the financial
meltdown and a crisis of confidence in our elected officials. Allowing
the Comcast deal would mark yet another failure of government to
protect the public interest."

"Free Press will be rallying people across the country who are tired
of mega-mergers being rubber stamped. We will make sure that this time
their voices can=92t be ignored."

###
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform
the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote
diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and
universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net