Press Release
Industry, Labor and Consumer Groups Unite to Raise Concerns about Cable Giant Comcast’s Proposed Takeover of NBC
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
Washington -- An ad hoc group of industry, labor and public interest organizations from both the left and the right expressed grave concern about the proposed Comcast takeover of NBC in an open letter to President Obama and Congress.
Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright said the groups share common concerns that Comcast control of NBC would mean less competition and higher costs for consumers. "Groups that seldom work on the same side of an issue agree that the merger of media giants would only hurt the media landscape and further diminish independent content and voices," Wright said. "Both conservative and liberal groups fear that this media mega-merger would result in even less diverse programming than we have now."
Wright noted that the letter also includes industry associations like the American Cable Association and the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, which agree it will be harder on smaller competitors if the government allows the cable giant to get even bigger. Wright added, "Several consumer groups, including Free Press, oppose the proposed merger because it will mean prices will likely go up for consumers."
Thousands of Americans have voiced concern about the effect of this merger via www.freepress.net/comcast.
The signatories to the letter include:
American Cable Association
Center for Media Justice
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
Concerned Women of America
Consumer Federation of America
Consumers Union
Free Press
Kids First Coalition
Media Action Grassroots Network
Media Access Project
Media and Democracy Coalition
Morality in Media
National Association of Independent Networks
National Consumer League
National Organization for Women
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies
Parents Television Council
Public Knowledge
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association
Sports Fans Coalition
U.S. PIRG
Writers Guild of America East
Writers Guild of America West
Read the letter here: www.freepress.net/files/Comcast_NBC_Letter.pdf
Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright said the groups share common concerns that Comcast control of NBC would mean less competition and higher costs for consumers. "Groups that seldom work on the same side of an issue agree that the merger of media giants would only hurt the media landscape and further diminish independent content and voices," Wright said. "Both conservative and liberal groups fear that this media mega-merger would result in even less diverse programming than we have now."
Wright noted that the letter also includes industry associations like the American Cable Association and the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, which agree it will be harder on smaller competitors if the government allows the cable giant to get even bigger. Wright added, "Several consumer groups, including Free Press, oppose the proposed merger because it will mean prices will likely go up for consumers."
Thousands of Americans have voiced concern about the effect of this merger via www.freepress.net/comcast.
The signatories to the letter include:
American Cable Association
Center for Media Justice
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
Concerned Women of America
Consumer Federation of America
Consumers Union
Free Press
Kids First Coalition
Media Action Grassroots Network
Media Access Project
Media and Democracy Coalition
Morality in Media
National Association of Independent Networks
National Consumer League
National Organization for Women
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies
Parents Television Council
Public Knowledge
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association
Sports Fans Coalition
U.S. PIRG
Writers Guild of America East
Writers Guild of America West
Read the letter here: www.freepress.net/files/Comcast_NBC_Letter.pdf
