- Jun 6, 2007
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There is nothing wrong with Comcast buying NBC non-news channels for additional programiming for their cable TV network as long as they make that programming available to other cable TV providers at a fair price. But the Federal Government should say absolutely not, absolutely no way Comcast you get those NBC News channels. The many advocates for the American public should also be saying no way on Comcast getting these NBC news channels and they should be raising hell about it. This is because news channels aren't like other TV channels they have an integral role in America's democracy, they inform the public and educate the public on matters involving government, they have a significant impact on who gets elected to public office and by focusing attention and forming public opinion they have a significant impact on what government officials do or don't do while holding public office, etc.. If Comcasts gets ownership of these NBC news channels there will be real pressure, that is pressure that has a practical effect, on management of these news channels to not take actions that will cause big business to stop buying advertisement with Comcast and move to FIOS, Direct TV or the Dish Network, etc. Even if Comcast officials don't verbally caution staff of the news channels not to anger major sponsors this way, these news staff's will nevertheless experience the pressure. It doesn't matter that Brian Roberts is a great human being and Comcast management has committed that it won't interfere in news programming, people that are successful in the news media are sophisticated they know how life works and that management of big business will use the power of their advertising dollars to penalize cable TV distributors that hurt them and reward those distibutors that help them. Major news channels are too important to America are too important to making America be the best society it can be to let these NBC news channels be corrupted this way.
If one thinks I am talking nonsense just look at the Fox News Channels. The Fox News channels are owned by the Rupert Murdoch's News corporation which also own interests in cable TV distributors and major news outlets like the "Wall Street Journal" (outstanding newspaper but its editorial page is right wing biased). Everybody knows Murdoch's reputation, his trademark is support "big business" special interests and ride the wave of big businesses' success. Murdoch's Fox News Channels adhere to this philosophy in an eyesore type manner. Common knowledge is that the Repulican Party is an advocate/agent/bell-hop for big business in America and Fox caters, unduly helps and "handles with kit gloves" the Republican Party. It is clear that Fox News has an agenda which is help the Republican Party and hurt the Democratic Party, it is clear that Fox has a double-standard when it comes to America's political parties. Coverage of the Health Care Reform bill demonstrates this clearly. It is true that the Democrat bill is too expensive and the Democrats deserved to be severely hit over the head publicly over this bill but the Republican's didn't and don't deserve all the favorable press they get from Fox on their alternative Health care views. Middle class families and working men and women that don't get health care insurance through their employer need help from the government buying health insurance because it is unaffordable; Republicans prior to twelve months ago recognized this but not in their current (Obama tenure) agenda. If a political party is serious about solving America's health care problem it will recognize that some Americans' will need help buying health insurance and that help must come from the Federal Government and the Federal Government must raise revenue to pay this expense so it must pass some type of tax or fee for this revenue. If Comcast gets ownership of NBC news channels these channels may not become as biased as Fox channels because of Brian Robert's character but even if they become a quarter as bad as Fox the American people will be wrongfully and materially hurt by this and Brian Robert's as amazing as he is won't live forever and if a disciple of Rupert Murdoch gets the reins of Comcast, a crucial asset for America's democratic society that is America's media will be severely harmed.
If one thinks I am talking nonsense just look at the Fox News Channels. The Fox News channels are owned by the Rupert Murdoch's News corporation which also own interests in cable TV distributors and major news outlets like the "Wall Street Journal" (outstanding newspaper but its editorial page is right wing biased). Everybody knows Murdoch's reputation, his trademark is support "big business" special interests and ride the wave of big businesses' success. Murdoch's Fox News Channels adhere to this philosophy in an eyesore type manner. Common knowledge is that the Repulican Party is an advocate/agent/bell-hop for big business in America and Fox caters, unduly helps and "handles with kit gloves" the Republican Party. It is clear that Fox News has an agenda which is help the Republican Party and hurt the Democratic Party, it is clear that Fox has a double-standard when it comes to America's political parties. Coverage of the Health Care Reform bill demonstrates this clearly. It is true that the Democrat bill is too expensive and the Democrats deserved to be severely hit over the head publicly over this bill but the Republican's didn't and don't deserve all the favorable press they get from Fox on their alternative Health care views. Middle class families and working men and women that don't get health care insurance through their employer need help from the government buying health insurance because it is unaffordable; Republicans prior to twelve months ago recognized this but not in their current (Obama tenure) agenda. If a political party is serious about solving America's health care problem it will recognize that some Americans' will need help buying health insurance and that help must come from the Federal Government and the Federal Government must raise revenue to pay this expense so it must pass some type of tax or fee for this revenue. If Comcast gets ownership of NBC news channels these channels may not become as biased as Fox channels because of Brian Robert's character but even if they become a quarter as bad as Fox the American people will be wrongfully and materially hurt by this and Brian Robert's as amazing as he is won't live forever and if a disciple of Rupert Murdoch gets the reins of Comcast, a crucial asset for America's democratic society that is America's media will be severely harmed.
