Comcast-Universal merger attacked

One critic likened cable TV giant Comcast to a plantation, while another pointed to the BP oil spill disaster as what could happen when companies escape tough regulatory scrutiny. Then an influential congresswoman dropped a bomb by hinting that Comcast had tried to buy her support for one of the biggest media deals in history.

Those were some of criticisms and charges that flew during a field hearing held Monday by the House Judiciary Committee at the California Science Center in South Los Angeles to review the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger. The hearing was convened by committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) but largely run by Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA). The session, attended by more than 100 people, lasted almost four hours and was frequently interrupted by applause, cheers and groans from the audience. The hearing was called to examine programming and workplace diversity issues arising from the merger, which would bring under one roof the nation's largest cable operator and a TV powerhouse that includes the NBC TV network, Universal Pictures movie studio and cable channels USA, Bravo and MSNBC. Rep Waters said opponents of the merger fear being blacklisted if they speak their minds: "It is somewhat troublesome that many independent and minority programmers, producers, writers and directors have been afraid to voice their concerns for fear of blacklisting or other forms of retaliation."