Comcast Roundup: Comcast-NBC deal coverage-palooza

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And so the fallout begins.
One week after Comcast’s mega-acquisition of a majority stake in NBC Universal, more coverage of the deal happened than this modest roundup could fit. We took the best and most relevant and surely still didn’t get it all.

DEFINITE READS

The New York Times scores the big creation story of the Comcast-NBC deal, which includes note that Comcast investigated buying Facebook. Still, The Business Insider called it subdued.
The New York Times editorial board raises several concerns about the acquisition.
The New York Times reports that how people watch TV on demand is a “critical issue in the landmark deal” that gave Comcast controlling interest in NBC.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Comcast COO Steve Burke is primed to make a union between Comcast and NBC work.
The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that the Comcast-NBC deal will be a boost to the region, though whether it is more economic or psychological is yet to be known.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Comcast will look to refocus Universal Pictures.
Below, find more than three dozen more Comcast stories, and yes, they’re almost all about its proposed purchase of NBC.

MIGHT BE WORTH YOUR TIME

Bloomberg reports that Comcast doesn’t plan to divest any assets in doing the NBC deal.
Inquirer TV critic Jonathan Storm writes about the possibilities Comcast has with NBC.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Comcast-NBC deal used at least 79 lawyers.
PBJ’s Peter Key also contrasts Comcast with the once-great Curtis Publishing company.
The Business Insider breaks down why Brian Roberts did the NBC deal. The Business Insider also boasts the chart that “explains” why Comcast did the deal, namely the profitability of cable channels and then also here.
The Washington Post reports that concern from lawmakers on the agreed merger has begun. The Inquirer’s Bob Fernandez reports that Comcast began lobbying Congressional members to support its approval. More Post coverage on Washington pushback here.
The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that Brian Roberts wrote a letter endorsing some measure of healthcare reform, criticized as a play to get support for the NBC deal. The Post also reports Roberts has begun a speaking tour of sorts.
The Business Insider reports that Comcast’s COO said he wouldn’t want to see a paid Hulu. Broadcasting and Cable says it’s about, yes, cable. The Associated Press reports that NBC CEO Jeff Zucker said more money would go to its network broadcasting, though, a portion of NBC that the AP reports Comcast has said it isn’t immediately looking to sell.
paidContent reports that the Comcast-NBCU deal “isn’t about digital.” The New York Times reports that the deal puts NBC’s broadcast TV in doubt.
NYT Media Decoder blog notes ’30 Rock’ star Alec Baldwin joked about Comcast plotlines for the show. Decoder also reports that the NBC name could be lost in the merger and that the deal puts Comcast in the news business, an angle the Los Angeles Times also took on.
The Silicon Alley Insider recounts another father-son lineage at Comcast that foretold the mega-merger.

GIVE A GLANCE

The Associated Press reports that as part of the deal, General Electric has agreed to buy at least $345 million in advertising from NBC in the next five years.
Philly Tech News lists the key documents from the Comcast-NBC deal and then aggregates even more news from acquisition here, here and here.
Mediaweek reports that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts says the majority stake in NBC puts his company in the position he wants it to be in.
Broadcasting and Cable reports that Comcast is to rename its OnDemand online service Xfinity.
Inquirer columnist Karen Heller wrote, uh, something about the merger.
Below watch one of the quick jabs that late-night NBC comedian Conan O’Brien took at the merger, and see the rest here.
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Not to be ignored, a public advocacy movement against the merger has taken hold, as can be seen in the video below.
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When there is just too much Comcast news to follow, the Comcast Roundup will be there every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST