Comcast Roundup: FCC 30 percent cap dropped, why Verizon stock sells higher and More

Every Thursday morning, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup.
Updated: 8/3/09 11:04 a.m. on search

paidContent reports that a federal appellate court overruled the Bush-era FCC mandate limiting a 30 percent cap on cable ownership, suggesting the door is left open for more consolidation. All eyes turned to Comcast, who the Silicon Valley Insider outright called a winner on the outcome and for whom the Inquirer story suggested it was a “moral” win. Reuters reported that the Philly MSO’s stock saw an uptick.
In this month’s Philadelphia magazine, stringer Vicki Glembocki profiles Andrew Beecham, the 46-year-old Brit turned Main Line-resident, who brought the Wiggles to Sprout — and gave Scott McNulty the chance to interview them — the preschool TV channel he created in 2005 and now for which he serves as vice president of programming. It’s an interesting piece on what is proving to be a big success in Comcast’s push to be a major player in content creation. We’d share a link, but couldn’t find it using a decidedly abysmal Phillymag search. So, buy a copy for goodness sake, or, you know, wait until I dig the link up. Update: The interesting profile can be seen here.
After the jump, interesting research on what keeps Comcast stock lower than those in less profitable markets, why some say TV Everywhere is bound to fail and three other Comcast pieces for the faithful.

• Inquirer PhillyDeals columnist Joe DiStefano reports on research that suggests Comcast stock remains below Verizon despite having a stronger core business because investors fear the Center City telecommunications giant will do something unexpected with its free-flowing cash, like its aborted 2004 attempt at buying Disney.
• The Silicon Valley Insider writes a bitting indictment of cable company-backed plans for online video services to thwart popular free streaming services like Hulu, suggesting that proposals like Comcast’s much trumpeted TV Everywhere have no convincing plans to fund the additional expense. That isn’t stopping the overtures just yet, as Multichannel News reports that Verizon has made its own play into the space.
• The Inquirer’s Bob Fernandez reports that Comcast shareholders voted in May to withhold major pay increases to company executives. Yeah? How did that go?
• The Boston Globe reports that the Comcast and Verizon TV ad battle has flooded Beantown. H/T Philly Tech News
• Zatz Not Funny reports that the increasingly-famed HD screen in the Comcast Center City lobby has gotten new content.

When there is just too much Comcast news to follow, the Comcast Roundup will be there to fill your every Comcast desire or fantasy.