Sen. Al Franken wants all Comcast and NBC content available online

In written questions to Comcast and NBC Universal regarding their $30-billion proposed marriage, Sen Al Franken -- who has been one of the harshest critics of the deal -- wants Comcast and NBC Universal to promise that it will put all its television shows online.

He also wants assurances that shows that the companies put online be made available to every one and not just people who get their Internet service through Comcast. As Sen Franken notes in his questions to the two companies, "The Internet is the future of the media business." The media is pretty much in agreement with that. At the same time, though, the industry is not quite sure yet how to ensure that the Internet isn't also the end of the media business. Whether it is through charging for more content online or adding more advertising or being more selective with what goes online will be determined in the years to come.