Viacom (NYSE: VIA), as a media monster that owns Paramount Pictures and cable networks like MTV and the Comedy Channel, might be seen as an "opportunistic competitor" in the words of U.S. Rep. Fred Upton. Or, it might be viewed as yet another industry player worried enough about the impact of a Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA)-NBCU merger to voice those concerns to the FCC.
What makes Viacom different is that it's one of the few--if only--big media players to suggest to the regulatory agency that a fatter Comcast might have "increased incentive and ability to impede competition ... by favoring its own content to the detriment of independent programmers," according to a story in the Los Angeles Times.
While Viacom urged the FCC to "carefully evaluate" the deal, those looking for ulterior motives (and who isn't?) suggest that Viacom may be speaking up as a way to encourage Comcast to carry its Epix pay movie channel.
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