Another win for centralized corporate information control, Comcast merges with NBC

Well, as if we needed more centralized corporate power.

via Washington Post: FCC approves Comcast and NBC joint venture.

"The Federal Communications Commission has approved Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal, allowing for a joint venture that puts a vast library of television shows and movies under the control of the nation's biggest cable and broadband Internet service provider.

Together, the companies have 16.7 million broadband subscribers, about 23 million cable customer and dozens of lucrative channels such as USA, Bravo, MSNBC and CNBC.

In a 4-to-1 vote, the FCC determined the deal was in the nation's public interest and assigned a number of conditions to the venture to ensure that Comcast shares content with cable competitors and gives other networks fair access to its customers.

The Justice Department, which had signed off on the deal in an antitrust review, is expected to announce its own approval with conditions aimed at keeping Comcast-NBCU from quashing competition from other networks and Internet providers.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski approved of the joint venture late December, saying that ultimately the union would benefit consumers as Comcast promised to add 1,000 hours of news and informational programming to some channels, contribute $20 million in venture funds for minority programs, and $9.95 broadband Internet service for low-income households.

But Democratic Commissioner Michael J. Copps, the sole dissenting vote, said the concentration of media under Comcast's control would put too much power into one company that controls the access consumers have to entertainment and news. He said in the end that the venture would have too many potential conflicts.

The deal "reaches into virtually every corner of our media and digital landscapes and will affect every citizen in the land," Copps said in a statement. "All the majority’s efforts—diligent though they were—to ameliorate these harms cannot mask the truth that this Comcast-NBCU joint venture grievously fails the public interest."

Public interest groups immediately decried FCC's action, saying the deal could lead to more media consolidation. And even with conditions that prevent Comcast from withholding channels from cable competitors or charging them more, the cable giant will have too much control over the burgeoning online video market."