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Senator Sanders Seeks To Block NBC-Comcast Merger

Posted by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire on November 8, 2010.

11/08/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has signaled that he will look towards blocking the merger between NBC and Comcast. The reason why, though, has to do with Keith Olbermann. Apparently, the suspension of Olbermann ahead of the merger between NBC and Comcast has caused a great deal uproar, and a lot of scrutiny of the reasons behind the suspension itself.

Senator Sanders stated that Comcast’s acquisition of NBC from General Electric would result in “another media giant run by a Republican supporter of George W. Bush.” The other one, obviously, is News Corp, owners of FOX News.

Both NBC and News Corp are having financial trouble, but for opposite reasons. NBC is having trouble because of their rather abysmal track record with entertainment shows lately, and FOX News is hemorrhaging money with many advertisers refusing to have their commercials aired during certain shows, but FOX over all is doing well.

Senator Sanders pointed to Comcast’s Chief Operations Officer Stephen B. Burke’s history as a major fundraiser for former President George W. Bush and stated that this was a reason why the deal should be blocked. Other lawmakers have had different reasons for wanting the deal blocked, including Senator Al Franken.

Sanders stated “As Vermont’s Senator, I intend to do all that I can to stop this merger. There already is far too much media concentration in this country. We do not need another media giant run by a Republican supporter of George W. Bush. That is the lesson we should learn from the Keith Olbermann suspension.”

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