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Comcast Seeking Control of Both Pipes and Content?

Posted by timothy on from the some-of-each-perhaps dept.

techmuse writes "Reuters reports that Comcast may be attempting to use its huge cash reserves to purchase a large media content provider, such as Disney, Viacom, or Time Warner. This would result in Comcast controlling both the delivery mechanism for content, and the content itself. Potentially, it could limit access to content it owns to subscribers to its own services, thus shutting out competing services (where they still exist at all)."

5 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. I like this better the first time by Associate · · Score: 4, Interesting

    when it was called AOL.

    --
    Someone hates these cans.
  2. Re:Bad timing by Fudge+Armadillo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This would likely not cross into anti-trust territory. Besides, they have tried it before... http://money.cnn.com/2004/02/11/news/companies/comcast_disney/ Large cable companies are running out of small mom & pop providers to buy, and have amassed huge cash reserves, which they would like to find something to do with, one of which is to buy a large content provider, or possibly (though they keep denying the rumors), buy a wireless provider. Most of the wireless providers in the U.S. are too large to be taken over by even the largest cable companies, though.

    --
    "You be the captain, and I'll be no one." -- Kasey Chambers
  3. Re:Bad timing by Stupendoussteve · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Or they could pass the savings on to the consumer, by maybe not jacking up their rates yet again.

    No wait, that would never happen. It's not like people are locked in to a single provider...

  4. Re:Bad timing by lambent · · Score: 5, Interesting

    what are you talking about? a very small percentage of people have the ability to choose between two, or even three providers! the system is obviously NOT flawed. /sarcasm

    i agree with your sentiment, they'll never actually LOWER prices. my experience with comcast is that they will raise prices by at least a dime every month, just to condition you to it.

  5. Re:Bad timing by Eil · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Large cable companies are running out of small mom & pop providers to buy, and have amassed huge cash reserves, which they would like to find something to do with,

    Oh, like upgrade their effing infrastructure? Months ago they were complaining about how much money they were losing from "high-bandwidth users," peer-to-peer applications, and streaming video sites. But now they have huge cash reserves?

    Kinda like how the RIAA companies always claim to be struggling after losing billions of dollars a year to piracy but turn around to their shareholders and say they're making more sales revenue than they ever have before.