In a closed-door hearing, Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) executives reportedly told FCC officials that it should not be forced to sell NBCUniversal programming to the OTT services of rivals beyond 2018.
This is according to the New York Post, which quotes anonymous sources within the Federal Communications Commission. Comcast representatives have yet to respond to FierceCable's inquiry for confirmation and/or statement.
As a regulatory condition of its 2010 purchase of NBCU, Comcast must, through January 2018, provide the conglomerate's networks and shows to any pay-TV service that touts at least one major broadcast network.
According to the Post, Comcast is arguing that the numerous over-the-top services that have launched or are soon to launch--Sling TV, Sony PlayStation Vue, Apple's upcoming service--don't need NBCU in order to survive.
In March, it was revealed that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was in discussions with Disney, Fox and CBS about launching a new OTT service, but that Comcast was left out of those discussions.
Responding last week to a letter to the FCC sent by a group opposed to Comcast's $45.2 billion buyout of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Comcast said it had not even been approached by Apple.
This is all juxtaposed amid rumors that Comcast is preparing its own OTT service.
Another interesting note from the Post story: An FCC source describes the Comcast/Time Warner Cable review process as being "in the sixth inning."
For more:
- see this New York Post article
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