Issa: Comcast-NBC deal "will go through"

LAS VEGAS—Neither the Obama administration nor Congress will block Comcast's bid for NBC Universal, .Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said today.

"I think it will go through," he said here at the Consumer Electronics Show, "Congress is not yet taking a hard turn in terms of how big companies can be."

The Senate and House Judiciary Committees plan to hold hearings on the deal, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee is also considering doing so.

The Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission will have to approve the deal. What Congress says in those hearings could influence the agencies' thinking about the matter.

When asked about the merger, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the companies have not submitted formal filings yet, so it is too early to discuss it.