Proposed Comcast-NBC Universal Mega-Deal Raises Anti-Trust Concerns

CWA said the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal "clearly spotlights the dangers of media consolidation in the Internet Age" and called on regulators to give the deal a thorough review.

If approved by regulators, this deal would create a mega-media company, one with the market power to determine what programs get aired and how much consumers must pay to view programming in every media outlet: cable, television and especially the Internet. This mega-company would control one out of every five viewing hours in the United States, CWA said.

The nation's largest cable company, with 24 million customers, Comcast also has 15 million Internet users and controls most must-have regional sports programming. If it takes on NBC Universal, it adds a major television network, 27 local televisions, cable channels including CNBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, Bravo, USA Network and more, plus Hulu, a growing stop especially for households under age 35.

CWA also pointed out that Comcast also has been cited for anti-democratic corporate governance processes by investor and public interest groups, and has a long history of violating workers' rights. If Comcast is permitted to take over NBC Universal, the corporation's undemocratic structure could be transferred to the new mega-media company, giving one person control over the dominant source of cable, television, Internet and media programming, CWA warned.

CWA represents about 2,000 Comcast workers and about 2,500 NBC-Universal broadcast technicians and other workers.