Sources have told Variety that Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), generally not the fastest mover in the cable industry, is hustling to get all its post-merger NBCU details in place before Thanksgiving, including the new entity's executive structure.
While Comcast executives have been publicly confident that the deal will get regulatory approval before the end of the year and close shortly thereafter, a number of recent events have crowded the FCC's schedule, including Cablevision Systems' (NYSE: CVC) protracted retransmission fight with News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA) that drew national and legislative attention and the midterm elections that will bring in a new crop of elected officials.
Among the biggest names being bandied about is that of Showtime Entertainment's former president Bob Greenblatt, who has been reportedly in line for a post with the new entity for months. There's nothing new there but the word is that before the end of the month things will start popping faster than thermometers on Thanksgiving turkeys.
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