Comcast: Online NBC content stays free

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said NBC's content will continue to be available online for free after the companies merge.

Roberts was asked about free online content by several lawmakers, including Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), in a hearing Thursday morning.

Consumer groups worry that NBC's popular content, which is now available on NBC.com and Hulu.com, will be migrated to websites only accessible to Comcast subscribers.

Comcast is experimenting with this model with its TV Everywhere initiative, which makes cable programming available online to Comcast subscribers.

Roberts said Comcast has no incentive to put NBC's content behind a pay wall. He pledged to maintain the free programming available today.

"One reason we want to be more invested in content is we [envision] the value of that content growing," he said "We will be well-served to make that content available to all the players in the marketplace. We see it as a growing business."

Roberts was also asked to assure members of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee that Comcast would not withhold content from competing distributors, such as satellite companies and smaller cable providers around the country.

"We want to stress the point, to underscore, that it is not the motivation for this deal to suddenly take CNBC off DirecTV or try to change those relationships, because those are our largest distributors," Roberts said.

When Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) asked if any conditions should be placed on the merger, Roberts said, "No."

"We have made at least 10 commitments" to the Federal Communications Commission, he said, to compete fairly.