MediaPost
Comcast will not turn the NBC network into a cable channel, despite the opportunity to generate hefty affiliate fees and produce a dual revenue stream, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said Wednesday.
“One of the commitments we made from day one is that we believe in the broadcast model,” Roberts said.
The executive was referring to the announcement of Comcast’s deal to purchase a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric.
Roberts said Comcast is committed to maintaining the decades-old affiliate model in perpetuity, even though the “economics in the broadcast industry are in flux.”
That uncertainty has fueled speculation that broadcast networks may move to cable-style distribution and charge operators a premium to carry them. More…