video 30 Rock is well known for using both real-life news events and personalities to drive their plot: Alec Baldwin's character "Jack Donaghy" is said to be based on management style of Lorne Michaels, many believe that Will Arnett's turn as up-and-comer "Devin Banks" is inspired by former NBC programmer Ben Silverman, and of course Liz Lemon is, well, Tina Fey. But last night's episode featured a storyline ripped from the Mediaite headlines: NBC's takeover by a Philadelphia cable provider, affectionately referred to as "Kabletown." (more...)

The year 2009 had many media bright spots, break-out stars, dominating networks and game-changing technologies.  The Mediaite 50 collects the finest, most exemplary innovators and influencers of the year, defining a media moment in time and setting the agenda as we move forward. (more...)

Ever since Fox News launched in 1996, it has been alone in the cable news world as the only right-leaning network (in the words of Bill O'Reilly). Wouldn't it be ironic if it was NBCU that launches the first competing network? It's now a possibility, thanks to the Comcastic new deal. (more...)

Who: Alec Baldwin interviewed by Janet Maslin
What: TimesTalks’ “Live with Alec Baldwin”
Where: The Times Center
When: December 3, 2009
Thumbs: Up

video Everyone is dealing with the announcement that Comcast would be taking control of NBCU in different ways. For Conan O'Brien on The Tonight Show, he's decided to welcome his new boss with open arms - and a Comcastic new song. (more...)

Ever since the NFL Network launched in 2003, there seemingly hasn’t been a moment it wasn’t embroiled in controversy involving its relationship with at least one major cable company. The offshoot of those controversies: a metaphorical middle finger from the NFL to fans all over the country (and there are many) who subscribe to a cable provider that doesn't carry the network. The network might have great programming, but those millions of households around the country wouldn't know it. (more...)

developing As has been rumored for awhile, Comcast and GE announced this morning they were forming a joint venture. Comcast would own 51%, GE would own 49%, Comcast would manage and the venture consists of NBCU businesses, Comcasts's cable networks and certain digital properties, among other things. (more...)

The sale of NBC Universal from General Electric Co to Comcast Corp, which Comcast hoped to complete almost a month ago, looks like it's actually happening this time. According to the New York Times' Michael J. de la Merced, Bill Carter, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, GE reached a tentative agreement to buy Vivendi SA's 20 percent stake in NBC, ending a stalemate that held up the GE-Comcast deal: (more...)

Apparently, the world is not enough for the "worldwide leader in sports." ESPN recently launched a series of websites tailored to local fans, and it has at least one cable giant a little nervous. In the last year, ESPN has introduced sites exclusively covering Dallas, Boston, and Chicago teams, with New York and LA on the way. In response to ESPN's planned takeover of local markets, Comcast has announced it's own plans to beef up local sports coverage in cities where the ESPN empire may see fit to invade: (more...)

Reuters is reporting that according to sources Comcast Corp and General Electric Co have agreed to make current NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker the head of their new proposed joint venture, though the "structure of a new board is still being negotiated" and Peter Chernin's role is still up in the air. From the report: (more...)

exclusive The New York Times is reporting that Comcast Corp and General Electric Co are closer to a deal to give Comcast a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal and that a formal announcement may be made in the coming week. Mediaite has learned from an industry source familiar with the negotiations that Comcast will in fact be formally announcing its acquisition of NBC Universal this week. (more...)

Yesterday, the news that former News Corp. heavyweight Peter Chernin had been advising Comcast in its bid for NBC Universal sent shockwaves throughout the media world. Before the speculation as to what this means gets out of hand, it's worth bringing up one key data point: both of Chernin's top deputies, Katherine Pope and Dylan Clark, are former NBC/Uni execs. (more...)

TechCrunch reports that "Facebook grew twice as fast as Twitter in July;"  To back this up, they produce an official-looking Comcast chart which documents Facebook's impressive climb (below). The story was quickly picked up by The Washington Post and HuffPo among others, but did anyone stop to consider the premise that it makes sense to compare Facebook and Twitter at all? (more...)