Christian groups seek Comcast's porn revenues before proposed merger

:shrug: PS I didn't write the title. :D



Christian groups seek Comcast's porn revenues before proposed merger
By Sara Jerome - 06/28/10 11:05 AM ET


The Parents Television Council (PTC) and a handful of Christian groups have called on Comcast to disclose the amount of revenue it brings in from pornographic and adult entertainment programming before it merges with NBC Universal (NBCU).

The groups, which include James Dobson's organization Focus on the Family, want the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider the company's porn revenues when judging if the merger is in the public interest, they wrote in a filing last week about the merger.

The U.S. Communications Act allows the FCC to use a "public interest" standard to evaluate the transfer of broadcast licenses.

"Comcast is one of the most far-reaching distributors of pornography in the communities it serves, raising serious questions about whether the company meets the character and public interest obligations required," said PTC President Tim Winter.

The criticism about the merger generally has centered on competition and media diversity issues, placing the groups' complaint outside the main concerns.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/105863-christian-groups-seek-comcasts-porn-revenues

:P

with IRS records of contributions to churches."

to deem it unworthy of public consumption, of course.

Perhaps with rented assistance.

Doesn't matter what the issue is. Whatever side Dobson on Focus on the Family is on, I'm on the other side.

If opposition to further media consolidation is coming from all points in the political spectrum, it's more likely to be taken seriously than just "a bunch of libruls trying to save MSNBC".

This acquisition is just wrong on so many levels. And I'm not even talking about Comca$t pushing porn (I really had no idea) but more power to Dobson & pals if that's their reason.

This merger will be bad. I don't care about porn or those who object to it. But I do hate huge monopolies.

There are many many reasons to be concerned about the Comcast/NBCU merger, but it doesn't help to call either Comcast or NBCU or the combination thereof a "monopoly." Its not remotely a monopoly as that term is used in legal and economic circles. And referring to it as one creates a softball for those who support the combination to argue that if the concern is about "monopolies" then there is nothing to be concerned about. There are reasons to be concerned about this transaction and it doesn't have to rise to the level of a 'monopoly' for that to be the case.

Where I live, it is Comcast or rabbit ears. I check Verizon every 6 months or so for FiOS updates and we aren't even on their radar screen.

Verizon doesn't even operate in this state, except for two counties up north. That leaves a theoretical "choice" of Comca$t, the dish, or antenna. And dishes and roof antennas really aren't likely options for renters. And rabbit ears - or whatever the digital equivalent of the indoor antenna may be - is a complete joke unless you live within 20 miles or so of the broadcast antenna.

Before Dish and DirecTV started service, cable operators controlled over 90 percent of the multichannel video market. Today, cable operators' share of the market is in the low 60s. The three biggest providers of service are Comcast, DirecTV and DishTV. Direct Broadcast Satellite service is available nationwide.

As for renters -- the law protects your right to put a dish up if you have a balcony or patio on which to situate the antenna (or if you can place it in a window that also can work.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
While not every renter may have a way to do so, the fact that some people may only have one option for a service doesn't make that service a monopoly in either economic or legal terms.

Again, I'm not defending Comcast -- the deal with NBCU is bad news. But arguing that its bad news because Comcast and/or NBCU is a monopoly is about as ineffective a way to make the case its a bad deal as anything I can think of.

The more the merrier - that way it doesn't look like liberal whining.

Sure didn't know Comcast had porn though. I have had a Comcast cable account for almost a decade and never saw a porn channel on the lineup. Maybe they are talking about hotel PPV revenues?

I would consider any religious organization to be pornographic.