Comcast and NBC News

Keith Olbermann may have unwittingly done Comcast a favor last week when MSNBC's most popular commentator startled audiences by announcing that he had just hosted his last show on the cable news network. Sure, it was awkward for Comcast. Many of Olbermann's fans wondered whether the No. 1 cable and broadband provider — heady from winning federal approval to buy NBC Universal — secretly elbowed out the best-known liberal voice on television.

Comcast denied any involvement. But the widespread suspicions provided Comcast brass with a bracing reminder that they'll start playing a new ballgame on Friday when they close their deal with General Electric for 51% of a joint venture that includes NBC Universal. Once that happens, Comcast will face a level of public scrutiny and criticism unlike anything it ever experienced. Comcast isn't simply becoming the nation's most powerful media and entertainment giant, with assets in broadcast and cable TV, movies, the Internet and theme parks. The company is becoming television's dominant newscaster, with enormous influence on civic life. Comcast will control the No. 1 evening newscast (The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams), morning newscast (The Today Show), and Sunday talk show (Meet the Press). On cable, CNBC is the leading source of business news, while MSNBC focuses on politics. NBC's national news operations generated about $1.8 billion in revenue in 2009, with 60% coming from cable.