FCC Asks Media Firms for Details of Comcast Contracts

The Federal Communications Commission is pushing for media companies to submit details of their programming agreements with Comcast, as it reviews the cable giant's proposed $45 billion merger with Time Warner Cable.

The agency believes the documents -- which cover details of the carriage arrangements between Comcast and TV channel owners -- contain information that would be relevant in its review, according to a person familiar with the matter. Media companies, though, are pushing back. Though many of them would like to see the FCC put in place strict conditions on a deal to restrain Comcast's market power, they don't want to reveal details of their contracts with the cable giant, fearing that would give competitors an advantage. Officials from several media companies -- including CBS, 21st Century Fox, Walt Disney, Discovery Communications, Time Warner, Viacom -- met with FCC staff earlier this month to voice their "grave concerns" about releasing "certain highly confidential materials," according to a regulatory filing.