How Comcast sealed the NBCU deal: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get ane-mail subscription for our Comcast news updates.

MUST READS

• How Comcast sealed the NBCU deal [Inquirer] “Comcast Corp.’s top strategists knew months ago that success in acquiring NBC Universal, despite the objections of a bevy of powerful opponents, rested with the little-known but lyrically named Mignon Clyburn.”
• A Little Less Drama at NBC [New York Times] — On Comcast executive Stephen Burke taking over NBC operations
• Comcast-NBC merger Inquirer editorial on its impact for the region
• Comcast: Take the bus, park the golf carts at the office [Company Town: Los Angeles Times] — “Comcast Corp. executives are preparing for a “global” town hall meeting Thursday to introduce the approximately 30,000 NBC Universal employees to the new leadership.”

Below, next steps for NBC taking on ESPN, the politics behind Olbermann leaving.

MIGHT INTEREST

• An Ad Agency for NBC Sports [Media Decoder: New York Times] — “NBC Universal will announce on Monday that John Miller, who led all of NBC’s marketing efforts for 25 years until last summer, is coming out of semi-retirement to set up and head the NBC Sports Agency.The ad agency will market all parts of the NBC Sports Group, which will soon include Comcast’s sports cable channels. Its formation is another indication that Comcast wants to seize opportunities in the sports arena, where ESPN is dominant.”
• Vivendi sells rest of NBC stake [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “Vivendi said Wednesday it has sold its remaining stake in NBC Universal Inc. to General Electric Co., paving the way for GE’s deal with Comcast Corp. to close.”
• After Olbermann, Is Comcast Set to Overhaul MSNBC? Don’t Bet on It [DailyFinance] — “Keith Olbermann’s sudden departure from MSNBC last week has fanned conspiracy theory flames throughout media. Those arguments hold that the conservatives at Comcast (CMCSA) wanted to oust the liberal broadcaster and shake up the cable channel’s lineup ahead of this month’s takeover of NBC Universal by the Philadelphia-based cable giant. That thinking doesn’t hold up for several reasons.”

GIVE A GLANCE

• Comcast SportsNet buys 2 blogs [Washington Business Journal] — “Continuing its strategy to build up its online news and analysis operations, Comcast SportsNet’s Mid-Atlantic regional sports network bought two D.C.-area blogs that cover the Redskins and the Nationals.” H/T PTN In 2010, CSN in Philly bought the 700 Level and Beerleaguer.
• Olbermann Fill-In: Host Worried His ‘Wings Would Be Clipped’ Under New Management [theWrap]
• Comcast’s Program-Guide Chief Exiting [Light Reading] — “Gerard Kunkel, the Comcast Corp. exec tasked with leading the design of the company’s video navigation products, is leaving the company at the end of February”