ABC, CBS, Fox Affiliates In Deal With Comcast

The ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates have agreed not to oppose Comcast’s $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable in exchange for commitments from NBCU’s owner not to discriminate against broadcast stations owned by others -- or to lobby against retransmission consent, according to a Dec. 23 affiliate filing at the Federal Communications Commission.

Under the deal, the TWC acquisition would include a series of conditions that would bar Comcast from discriminating in favor of NBCU-owned or operated stations over retransmission consent -- and other issues -- for 10 years after the TWC deal closes. Among other things, the conditions require Comcast to negotiate retransmission consent deals in good faith, without any collaboration with NBCU. [Dec 24]