Big news just dropped via The Hollywood Reporter (as reported by Dark Horizons). Comcast is to split into two separate publicly traded companies – Comcast and NBCUniversal.
This is classed as a tax-free transaction that spins one company off from the other. When it is over, current Comcast shareholders will own shares in both Comcast and NBCUniversal.
The announcement says that both companies will boast:
“…significant scale, strong financial profiles and distinct strategic opportunities.”
They would say that, wouldn’t they? Outposters would say it is prepping the way for a potential sales of NBCUniversal to a rival.
Paramount Skydance is busy with Warner Bros. Disney still looks like it has bloating and indigestion from consuming Fox. Amazon already acquired MGM.
Seeing as Netflix didn’t spend that WB money after all, could they get back into the market for this?
NBCUniversal will include Universal Pictures, Universal Television, NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo, Universal’s theme parks division and European broadcasting giant Sky.
Comcast will consist of Xfinity broadband along with Comcast’s wireless/mobile, business services, and technology and connectivity operations.
The announcement included some high-level, and interim feeling news on who will be running things.
Brian L. Roberts will oversee both, with Mike Cavanagh as the CEO of NBCUniversal, and Michael Angelakis as CEO of Comcast.
Game on!
