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Potential Comcast/NBC Universal Deal May Change Market Cycle
Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Comcast, Industry Trends (all tags)
With Comcast rumored to make a majority-share acquisition of NBC Universal, we may soon be seeing Video On Demand presence of new movies before a DVD or Blu-ray release.
The deal seems likely, and reports state that if it were to take place, Comcast and NBC would form a new media group, encompassing Universal Pictures, Universal Studios, NBC television, Hulu.com and cable channels such as Bravo, E!, and USA.
Michael Nathanson, analyst with Sanford Bernstein, says that Comcast could easily use its clout to move high definition Video On Demand availability up to precede physical media releases. “Charge consumers $7 to $10 per title for the exclusive right to watch a film in HD on their couches without having to drive to Blockbuster or a Redbox kiosk” he states, “No doubt, Warner Bros., and maybe Fox, will follow.”
Nathanson suspects that this would be an excellent way to offset the dollar-a-night rentals offered by Redbox. Allowing consumers early access in high definition at an appropriate price could make DVD rental obsolete for many users.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Comcast Raising Prices, Places Blame on HD Signals
Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 04:30 PM ETTags: Comcast (all tags)
There will be a reported price increase for subscribers of Comcast’s cable TV services next month, and the blame is being placed squarely on the shoulders of HDTV.
Citizens of California and Washington have been warned by Comcast that their rates will be increasing anywhere from 1.6% to 2.7% in the upcoming year. Additionally, cable modem rental rates will increase from three dollars monthly up to five.
“We continually invest in providing customers with next-generation equipment and technology” said Comcast in a statement issued yesterday. “Our costs for this new equipment will increase by 167% over the next two years.”
Comcast could not give specifics on who the rate hikes will affect, but said that they will happen market to market, but are starting this fall.
Source: Multichannel.com
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