Comcast and NBCU: Merger will support future of media

Advocates for Comcast and NBC Universal met with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials on Friday to argue that their proposed merger would further the goals of the commission's Future of Media project.

The Future of Media project is assessing whether Americans have access to an acceptable set of news sources. It will issue a report on that question. The report will examine issues ranging from news business models to the information needs of local communities.

In the FCC's words, it aims "to help ensure that all Americans have access to vibrant, diverse sources of news and information that will enable them to enrich their families, communities and democracy."

In a Friday meeting, NBC Universal and Comcast representatives discussed how their merger will further the goals of this project. They focused on "both companies’ historic and ongoing commitments to their local communities and the ways in which the transaction will benefit communities and citizens by allowing NBCU to expand its production and distribution of local news on multiple platforms," according to a disclosure statement filed with the commission.

The companies also said their effort to "nurture the next generation of professional journalists" is also consistent with the Future of Media project.

"Finally, Comcast and NBCU outlined the benefits of the transaction for diverse communities and producers of independent content, the ways in which the transaction will spur development of advanced advertising technologies, including interactive advertising, and the companies’ commitments to expand distribution of children’s programming and increase engagement in digital literacy efforts," the disclosure statement said.