Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) hopes for a year-end resolution of its $30 billion (or so) NBC Universal acquisition are becoming as likely as a white Christmas in Florida. It could happen, but a betting man would stay away from the odds.
The FCC, which already knows everything short of the type of squash racquet Brian Roberts uses (and there's no guarantee it doesn't know that) has again asked the two companies for more information about agreements with other cable operators, per-subscriber revenues for individual cable networks, top advertisers and still more information about how NBC would (or would not) put content on over-the-top platforms.
The ever-busy Sena Fitzmaurice, of course, was called in to explain the Comcast viewpoint, describing the requests as "not uncommon" and reiterating the MSO's belief that approval will happen by the end of the year.
While the deal is still incomplete, Comcast can't officially roust Jeff Zucker from his post as NBCU CEO, although he has offered to leave upon deal closing to make way for Steve Burke. That isn't stopping a groundswell of support for former Showtime president Robert Greenblatt who The Hollywood Reporter says could be in line to run the broadcast network. Of course maybe the FCC wants more information on him as well.
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