Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Comcast Spins Off NBCUniversal Cable Channels in $7B Move (Connecting the Dots: NBCUniversal, MSNBC, The Comcast Corporation & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Comcast Spins Off NBCUniversal Cable Channels in $7B Move  (Connecting the Dots: NBCUniversal, MSNBC, The Comcast Corporation & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Newsmax.com

By Jim Thomas    |   Tuesday, 19 November 2024 08:31 PM EST

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/comcast-nbcuniversal-cable/2024/11/19/id/1188722/

Comcast is set to announce a groundbreaking $7 billion spin-off of its NBCUniversal cable TV networks, marking a pivotal shift in its growth strategy amid the changing media landscape, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Comcast Corp. is moving forward with plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable TV networks, a move aimed at restructuring its portfolio to adapt to the evolving media environment. The $7 billion venture, expected to be tax-free, will house a range of entertainment and news channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and the Golf Channel.

The announcement, slated for Wednesday, reflects Comcast's strategy to refocus its resources on broadcast TV, streaming, sports, and other high-growth areas. Although cable networks generate steady profits, cord-cutting trends have significantly impacted subscriber bases and viewership, diminishing their once-dominant status.

Key NBCUniversal assets, such as Bravo and its popular reality TV programming, will remain with Comcast, along with the NBC broadcast network and the Peacock streaming service. These entities are vital to the company's future growth. The cable networks being spun off earned approximately $7 billion in revenue in the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

Mark Lazarus, chair of NBCUniversal's media group, will serve as CEO of the new cable-focused venture. Anand Kini, NBCUniversal's chief financial officer, will serve as CFO and operating chief for the spin-off. Comcast Chair and CEO Brian Roberts will hold a one-third voting stake in the new entity but will not join its board.

The move reflects Comcast's belief that the cable venture will require greater scale to remain competitive. Media analysts suggest the new company may seek consolidation opportunities with other networks to expand its reach and profitability.

The spin-off follows a series of leadership changes across Comcast and NBCUniversal. Donna Langley, currently the Chief Content Officer, will become chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios. Her role will include overseeing production greenlights, marketing, and managing content budgets.

Matt Strauss, head of Comcast's direct-to-consumer business, will become chair of NBCUniversal Media Group and oversee sports, ad sales, and distribution. Langley and Strauss will share responsibilities in key operational areas.

Cesar Conde will continue as chair of NBCUniversal News Group, which oversees NBC News, Telemundo, and local TV stations. He will also advise on growth opportunities. Additionally, an executive vice president, Adam Miller, will be promoted to COO of NBCUniversal, with responsibilities spanning operations, technology, and communications.

The decision to spin off the cable networks marks a significant moment for Comcast, which acquired NBCUniversal in 2011. At the time, channels such as E! and Oxygen were among the company's most valuable assets in a thriving cable market. However, with the rise of streaming and the decline of traditional cable TV, Comcast is prioritizing investments in areas with greater growth potential.

The spin-off is expected to take about a year to complete.

Connecting the Dots:

Jeff Zucker was the president & CEO for NBCUniversal and is a director emeritus for the Robin Hood Foundation.  

Clifford S. Asness was a leadership council member at the Robin Hood Foundation, supported same-sex marriage in New York and is a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Tom Brokaw is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Harold E. Ford Jr. was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and is a political commentator for MSNBC.

Morning Joe is an MSNBC program.

Steven L. Rattner is a frequent guest on Morning Joe and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Judith Rodin was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the Comcast Corporation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Comcast Corporation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Steven J. Spinner was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the president of strategic partnerships for NBC.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Sundance Channel is a partner with NBCUniversal.

Robert Redford is a partner with the Sundance Channel, the founder & president of the Sundance Institute and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Sundance Institute, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Judith Rodin was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the Comcast Corporation.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Savannah Guthrie was an attorney for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, the White House correspondent for the NBC News, is a co-host for Today and married to Michael Feldman.

NBC News is a subsidiary of NBC.

Today is an NBC program.

Michael Feldman is married to Savannah Guthrie and was Albert A. Gore Jr’s deputy director of legislative affairs.

Albert A. Gore Jr.’s deputy director of legislative affairs was Michael Feldman, a donor for The Climate Project, is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project and a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate Reality Project.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was a donor for The Climate Project.

The Climate Project is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

Colin L. Powell was the strategic adviser for Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and an overseer for the International Rescue Committee.

Tom Brokaw is an overseer for the International Rescue Committee, was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee, supported same-sex marriage in New York and was a leadership council member at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Jeff Zucker is a director emeritus for the Robin Hood Foundation and was the president & CEO for NBCUniversal.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of NBC.

Today is an NBC program.

NBC News is a subsidiary of NBC.

Steven J. Spinner was the president of strategic partnerships for NBC and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Comcast Corporation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Judith Rodin was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a director at the Comcast Corporation.

Resources: Past Research

MSNBC Host Threatens to Quit After Show Pulled (Connecting the Dots: MSNBC, Mika Brzezinski, Morning Joe, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Kimberly Cheatle, U.S. Secret Service, PepsiCo & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on MSNBC)

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/msnbc-host-threatens-to-quit-after-show.html

Disney Cartoon Teaches Children Being a Princess Is a ‘State of Mind’ (Past Research on NBCUniversal)

Sunday, November 26, 2017

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/11/disney-cartoon-teaches-children-being.html

Savannah Guthrie Leads to Replace Disgraced Brian Williams (Past Research on NBC)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/02/savannah-guthrie-leads-to-replace.html

Corporate Backlash: Comcast Executives Push Employees To Protest Trump’s Popular Immigration Reform (Past Research on Comcast)

Saturday, February 4, 2017

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/02/corporate-backlash-comcast-executives.html

No comments: