Press Release
House Judiciary to Hold LA Hearing on Comcast-NBC
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Committee today announced it will hold a public hearing on the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger on Monday, June 7 at 9 a.m. at The Donald P. Loker Conference Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037. The public is encouraged to attend the hearing.
"The Comcast-NBC merger would combine the nation’s largest cable and Internet provider with one of the largest content providers, and would have a drastic impact on consumer choice and content creation, especially in the Los Angeles area,” said Free Press Associate Program Director Josh Stearns. "Comcast would have a lockdown on content and distribution platforms, and would own 1 in 5 television viewing hours, as well as a top movie studio in Universal Pictures."
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) chairman of the House Judiciary Committee will be presiding at the hearing, and in addition Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who serves on the Committee, has been a vocal critic of the proposed merger and has voiced concerns about its impact on people and communities of color.
Media consolidation negatively affects artists and creative communities, who already face high barriers to entry in the entertainment industry. Vertical integration and further consolidation would further harm these communities, resulting in even higher barriers for artists and fewer content choices in favor of greater profits for big business.
“This merger also has the potential to start a wave of acquisitions by media companies seeking to compete with this new monster,” said Stearns. “This hearing is vital to the Los Angeles community. It is crucial that the public’s voice is heard.”
Here is a link to a video on the merger: http://www.freepress.net/node/79864
House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Comcast-NBC
Date: Monday, June 7, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Donald P. Loker Conference Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
For more information, visit www.freepress.net/comcast.
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Note to editors: Public comments to the Federal Communications Commission on the Comcast NBC merger are due on June 21. Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright and Free Press Associate Program Director Josh Stearns are available for interviews.
"The Comcast-NBC merger would combine the nation’s largest cable and Internet provider with one of the largest content providers, and would have a drastic impact on consumer choice and content creation, especially in the Los Angeles area,” said Free Press Associate Program Director Josh Stearns. "Comcast would have a lockdown on content and distribution platforms, and would own 1 in 5 television viewing hours, as well as a top movie studio in Universal Pictures."
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) chairman of the House Judiciary Committee will be presiding at the hearing, and in addition Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who serves on the Committee, has been a vocal critic of the proposed merger and has voiced concerns about its impact on people and communities of color.
Media consolidation negatively affects artists and creative communities, who already face high barriers to entry in the entertainment industry. Vertical integration and further consolidation would further harm these communities, resulting in even higher barriers for artists and fewer content choices in favor of greater profits for big business.
“This merger also has the potential to start a wave of acquisitions by media companies seeking to compete with this new monster,” said Stearns. “This hearing is vital to the Los Angeles community. It is crucial that the public’s voice is heard.”
Here is a link to a video on the merger: http://www.freepress.net/node/79864
House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Comcast-NBC
Date: Monday, June 7, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Donald P. Loker Conference Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
For more information, visit www.freepress.net/comcast.
-------
Note to editors: Public comments to the Federal Communications Commission on the Comcast NBC merger are due on June 21. Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright and Free Press Associate Program Director Josh Stearns are available for interviews.
