Comcast to invest additional $300 million for NBCUniversal programming

Comcast this year plans to spend $300 million more for television programming to revive the ailing NBC broadcast network and keep the company's cable channels humming.

NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke renewed Comcast's long-standing pledge to invest millions of dollars more for television programming than had General Electric Co. During a conference call with analysts to discuss Comcast's first-quarter earnings, Burke said the company would spend $200 million more this year on prime-time shows to try to give the cellar-dwelling NBC network a lift in the ratings. Comcast also plans to pump in an additional $100 million on programming for the company's profitable cable networks -- including USA, Syfy, E! and Bravo -- to keep the channels at the top of their game. Much of the $200 million destined for NBC is to restock the 10 p.m. time slot with scripted shows after the previous regime's debacle of placing Jay Leno in prime time for four months in 2009 and early 2010. More than a year later, NBC continues to struggle to regain its footing with dramas and comedies at 10 p.m.