Al Franken:Oppose the NBC/Comcast Merger

[cal04]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/10/835929/-Oppose-the-NBC-Comcast-Merger

I sent an email to my list today, and I thought I'd post a note here as well. As you might have heard, I'm opposing the NBC/Comcast merger in its current form. I wanted to write you today to explain why, and to ask for your help.

I have some experience in the broadcast industry, and I simply don't trust Comcast and NBC when it comes to the merger they are asking the Senate to approve. I am convinced that without significant changes to protect consumers, merging a company who provides programming and one who provides the pipes that carry said programming would be a raw deal for Minnesotans and independent content producers alike.

Fights like this one are more than worth having, they're essential to preserving the fabric of our democracy. I know full well that by taking positions like this, I'm inviting special interest groups to spend a lot of money to defeat me down the road. That's ok by me -- because corporations getting their way isn't some bad medicine Americans need to swallow -- we can stand, fight, and win if we work together. I'm building a movement to grow the momentum we established in 2008, please consider joining us today.


https://secure.alfranken.com/page/contribute/NBCComcastMerger

[derby378]

1. I can already hear Repukes shouting "conflict of interest"

They'll claim that since Franken is an alumnus of SNL, he has a vested interest in making sure General Electric retains control of NBC. Either that, or another equally ludicrous argument.

That said, I'm standing with Al on this one.

[HBravo]

2. Al Franken is ooh so correct.

George Orwell's big brother if this get passed is ever more present.

[Metta]

3. Good. It's the right thing to do.

Good karma, Al.

[dashrif]

4. I

think this is what started the whole Jay and Conan thing

[TexasObserver]

5. Recommend. We used to have real anti trust enforcement here.

[invictus]

6. K&R

[Liberal In Texas]

7. Not only should any more media mergers be blocked

they need to break up the mega-media conglomerates that already exist.

There is no reason we can't go back to ownership rules that existed 20 or so years ago: 1 TV station per market and 2 radio stations per market by any one owner. Furthermore, there should be a rule that if a company owns a newspaper in a market they are not allowed to own a broadcast outlet.