More Rumblings: The People’s Republic Of Comcast
>>> What is it in the air today that some of Philadelphia’s most hated institutions — SEPTA, Comcast, Cole Hamels — seem to be firing on all of their crazy-bullshit cylinders at once? Jesus, one at a time, people. Incoming: Comcast is like this close to owning NBC Universal. Like, closer than it has ever been before. And here we must ask: Is Comcast even going to have any idea whatsoever to do with NBC once it does own it? Because, Seeking Solutions With Suzanne and It’s Your Call With Lynn Doyle notwithstanding, Comcast has proven time and again that it doesn’t know its ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to content. And ostensibly the reason they care about NBC/Uni at all is because of content. Yes, execs are circling, but that is what execs do, often while also jerking. And while there are shades of Time Warner/AOL-style disaster written all over this thing, well, can anybody stop this crazy ride? Actually, YES. And you’re going to love who it is: The French! (For our new readers, yes, we love the French. No, seriously, get away from me, you disgusting American. We really love the French.) Anyway, Vivendi still owns 20% of NBC/Uni, and before any of this shit happens, the Robertses are going to have to pow-wow with the Frogs. Which will be hilarious and sad. We hope. Otherwise, man, 30 Rock. Comcast, I am telling you right now, if you fuck up my 30 Rock, I’m going to punch you in the dick. [NYT/Gawker]
>>> Meanwhile, back in the realm of The Old, Stupid Comcast We Know, it will make you smile to know that the folks who invented BitTorrent are this close to figuring out how to get around the P2P throttling that made lots of FCC lulz for Comcast last year. Mom, I’m sorry I just wrote a sentence that I know you wouldn’t understand. I promise it’s not about drugs, though. It’s about computers! [TheInquirer]
>>> And finally, we can’t believe it: Just when we thought that this Clear WiFi thing was gonna roll out in Philly as a viable alternative to Comcast and Verizon, it turns out that it’s really just a partnership between Sprint and, guess who, Comcast. You know what they say: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! So be sure to catch Joey Sweeney on this week’s episode of Seeking Solutions With Suzanne as he and Suzanne discuss How To Pay Top Dollar For Music On The Internet! [Sprint]
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Where’s jburnside with a proud hurrah for unbridled capitalism?
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
hey, an appropriate thread to drop in this post about Bob Brady backing the same network neutrality policies as, duh-duh, Comcast…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/comcast-attacks-net-neutr_n_344170.html
The Sunlight Foundation reports that Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Brady signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission critical of its new network neutrality policies.
Of the 72 lawmakers who signed onto the letter, Brady is the leading recipient of campaign contributions from telecom companies — since 2007 alone he’s received $91,650 just from Comcast, which is based in his district of Philadelphia.
Comcast, which has played an aggressive role in the debate over net neutrality, spent $3 million on lobbying in the third quarter of the year, according to disclosure reports.
Not surprisingly, Brady has a long history of supporting Comcast’s policies. And the letter sent to FCC bears a striking resemblance to Comcast’s announcement on net neutrality.