With increasing pressure from Democrat members of Congress, Comcast is maneuvering to gain approval of its acquisition of NBC Universal.
Comcast promised to add eight independent TV networks (four controlled by African-American interests and another four run by Hispanic interests) to its cable system and create a $20 million fund to assist minority entrepreneurs.
Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen, in a summary of diversity commitments, indicated that two networks, majority controlled by African-American interests, will be added to Comcast's lineup within the first two years.
Comcast also promised to establish a new venture capital fund with a minimum of $20 million to finance ventures by minority entrepreneurs in the New Media arena.
Democrat Sen. Herb Kohl demanded that after the merger the entity sell off Hulu within a year of the closing.
However, Cohen wrote a letter to Democrat Rep. Bobby Rush, a member of a House subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet, indicating that nothing would be sold by the company after the merger other than a Spanish language local station in Los Angeles.
Still, Comcast has indicated that it will try to sell NBC Universal's KWHY television station in L.A. to a minority controlled group.
NBC Universal also touted the company’s commitment to diversity.
In prepared testimony, Paula Madison, Executive Vice President of Diversity, said that over the last year the NBC network has increased the number of minority actors (31% to 33%) as well as writer-producers (12% to 14%) and directors (9% to 11%).
Could this be a new form of affirmative action?
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