"Dump NBC affiliates" says Liberty's Malone!

[genlock]

National TV advertising from the proposed Comcast/NBC Universal deal could give a big kick in the pants to the NBC broadcast operation -- but a lot would have to happen, according to media industry icon John Malone.

"Arithmetically, it's easy," says Malone, chairman of Liberty Media, speaking on CNBC Monday. "Sloth off the [network] affiliates, and get back 100% of the ads. National [TV] ads are selling better than local."

Media researcher SNL Kagan estimates that NBC pulls in $5.6 billion in advertising per year.

"You become a cable network," he added. "You become the most powerful network. You would eclipse USA Network." Malone was one of the main architects of the U.S. cable TV industry in the 1980s and 1990s -- especially with his dominant cable system operation, Tele-Communications Inc.

Getting in the way of NBC becoming a cable network could be NBC affiliates, which hold federal broadcast licenses and considerable sway -- overall federal agency approval of the deal.

Wondering if WSAZ would still be the Market leader, Indeed?

[fearpeddler]

I dont see why they couldnt start yanking re-broadcasting deals as they expire bit by bit.....

[genlock]

They would have to do this fast as it would sort of upset station owners.
NBC/compost would be happy to sell syndication to the former NBC affiliates tho.

IDEA: Run NBC programming on MSNBC cable channel. Like the guy said.
Run MSNBC programming on the affiliates. Assuming the affiliates pay for it.
Syndicate old NBC series to the affiliates. Like the show about the atomic bus.
Or was it a train. OJ Simpson was the driver.

If this happened, would ABC and CBS be far behind?
I don't think this would kill local television.
There would be quite an attrition rate, probably 50%.
Good stations would survive but not be cash cows, as before.
Average stations and worse would die or end up in clusters
covering huge areas all with the same programming.

[genlock]

Even the thought of this happening must bring chills to the people who bought WSAZ for 187 million dollars.
OTOH, I think Liberty was one of the companies wanting to buy NBC. Maybe this Malone guy is just throwing a
sore-loser monkey-wrench into the mix to see if he can foul up Comcast's deal.

[cgarison]

Maybe this Malone guy is just throwing a
sore-loser monkey-wrench into the mix to see if he can foul up Comcast's deal.

Let him continue to throw spanners into the works and potentially break down the spinoff talks between Comcast and NBC. This deal scares the hell out of me because I do not want my cable provider owning a sizable amount of content on distribution system. It is already a b1+ch with Comcast because of the NFL Network debacle which means I miss 5 prime time games because it is a premium offering when every other "major" cable system carries it as a part of their standard package along with ESPN-U and every other sports channel possible including Comcast's Versus channel.

And I want to see ESPN's coverage of the SEC football and basketball (GO BIG BLUE!) games, but I am not going to pay $20.00/month to Comcast for the privilege. Esp. when Verizon FiOS carries everything above in their standard package. I just hate the standard definition PAC10 coverage (Amy has to watch her Stanford Cardinal) that Comcast puts on VS when fed to Verizon.

[/rant]

[fearpeddler]

well, nbc and comcast struck up some kinda deal.......

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

[genlock]

Comcast is #1 in customer satisfaction. (from the bottom).
They are #1 from the top in employee satisfaction.
I don't think anything like affiliate relations will stop them from
maximizing their earning opportunities. They can threaten the
local-yokels with putting more and more of their stuff in
one of their cable channels and the affiliates will back off.
I just can't fathom why Comcast is retaining Jeff Zucker.
Of course, that can change in an instant. I expect some real changes
to NBC, MSNBC, cnbc and the Comcast networks on cable (10 of them).

[cgarison]

I say that Brian Roberts of Comcast may keep Zucker, although he has not been the genius of television in the last few years. Perhaps it has been too much GE cost cutting is starting to impact ratings.

What I see going away is Comcast's attempts at new with the Comcast Network and CN8. Where I see growth will be NBC Sports picking up the affiliation of Comcast's regional sports coverage making NBC a power to compete against ESPN/ABC Sports.

[genlock]

That sports idea would give CNBC and MSNBC something to do on weekends.
Well, anytime for MSNBC. I can't wait to see Olivia Munn host the Today show.

[Mr. Jones]

I can't wait to see Olivia Munn host the Today show.

Morning television leader, indeed.

[Bob Campbell]

You don't think they'l mess with the SyFy channel do you? That's my big worry.

[fearpeddler]

they've already messed it up sci-fi..... dont see why they wouldnt keep screwing with it, and hell yah, I wants me sum Munn!!!!

[cgarison]

they've already messed it up sci-fi..... dont see why they wouldnt keep screwing with it, and hell yah, I wants me sum Munn!!!!

Only true Sci Fi geeks would agree with you on that statement (me included.)

But the ratings show a different story with SyFy moving up the charts placing closer to the USA Network than toward the bottom. Also consider this deal will give Comcast The Weather Channel which can put this giant in the world of competing against State College, PA based AccuWeather if they choose to enter the canned weather forecasting business.

Munn in the Morning. She finds Apple products "lick-able."



I have to pick Linux loving Shannon Morse from Revision 3's HAK5 for my pick as a new NBC morning TV hostess.

http://www.snubsie.com/wp-content/uploa ... 02658a.jpg



Funny. Revision 3 is one of two internet outlets founded for TechTV Rejects to find employment after the Comcast G4 implosion.

[AmpedNow]

Also consider this deal will give Comcast The Weather Channel which can put this giant in the world of competing against State College, PA based AccuWeather if they choose to enter the canned weather forecasting business.

I wonder if AccuWeather will ever launch their own TV channel to compete with TWC... It's been rumored for several years now.

If so, will Comcast be slow to pick them up?

Okay. Moar geek chicks, please.

[Bob Campbell]

And I thought I was a geek. I'd never heard of either of those chicks til this thread. And they're from the G 4 Network right? You guys are true ubergeeks.

[cgarison]

I was going to toss on mainstream Natalie DelConte from CBS/CNet but then I would not be nearly as geeky.



I do not watch anything with Cali Lewis. I don't know why? I guess it is that I like Veronica Belmont better



Speaking of Veronica Belmont, Qore chick and hostess of Tekzilla on Rev3.



And I have to admit that I am not interested in any of these chicks/babes because I have my favorite geek babe sitting beside me right now looking up the rules around how to get married in various places so we can run away and elope in someplace tropical on her laptop while I am typing on WVRMB.

Lord, I am so blessed.