Comcast Rivals, Partners Seek Conditions on NBC Deal

Comcast Corp. rivals and business partners flooded the Federal Communications Commission Monday night with suggested requirements to impose on Comcast before approving its takeover of General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal media unit, including conditions that could alter the online-video marketplace.

A few companies, including Bloomberg LLC and Dish Network Corp., asked the FCC to reject the Comcast acquisition, which would give it 51% control of NBC Universal's television and movie businesses for approximately $13.75 billion in cash and assets. But many wanted federal regulators to impose restrictions that would either give them better bargaining power with the cable and Internet giant or better access to its network and programming. By Tuesday afternoon, the FCC had received more than 32,000 comments about the deal, including emails from consumers worried that it would send their cable bills soaring, local station owners concerned NBC sports programming could soon move exclusively to cable channels and others who want the FCC to impose conditions that could give them a competitive advantage.

Not all of the comments filed have opposed or sought strict conditions the Comcast-NBC deal. Comcast supporters, including government officials, community groups and media outlets, have also filed hundreds of comments in favor of the transaction.