NBCU's reorganization under Comcast is already underway, but U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders asked the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to disapprove of the merger.
“At a time when a small number of giant media corporations already control what the American people see, hear, and read, we do not need another conglomerate with control over the production and distribution of sports, news, and entertainment,” Sanders said in a statement. “In my view, we need more media diversity, more local control, more points of view – not more media concentration.”
The Vermont Independent told the five FCC commissioners that the deal was likely to increase cable rates, citing a study by former FCC chief economist William Rogerson, who calculated that it would cost consumers $2.4 billion.
Comcast has said the study, commissioned by the trade group the American Cable Association, was based on a "flawed economic analysis."
Sanders' call for the deal to die came a day after NBC Universal Television Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin announced he would leave NBCU because of the merger. He said there would be no role for him under Comcast's new plan for the network.
He said he would step down as soon as the merger is done. It is expected to be complete by early in the new year.
