Comcast Looking To Make A Bid For Both Warner Bros. Discovery And UK Based Broadcaster ITV

Comcast’s European pay-TV business Sky is in talks to acquire U.K. TV giant ITV’s media and entertainment (M&E) unit.

In a statement early Friday morning London time, ITV said it “is in preliminary discussions regarding a possible sale of its M&E business to Sky for an enterprise value of £1.6 billion,” which translates to $2.1 billion.  

The M&E business includes ITV’s commercial free-to-air TV channels in the U.K., as well as its ITVX streaming platform. Its revenue for the first nine months of 2025 was down 5 percent from the year-ago period to £1.45 billion ($1.90 billion).

Not part of a deal would be production powerhouse ITV Studios, which produces such shows as Love Island, Britain’s Got Talent, and the Harlan Coben Netflix hit series Fool Me Once, among many others. ITV Studios has been the topic of much deal chatter in recent years, with the likes of Banijay, All3Media parent RedBird IMI, and others being cited as potential buyers.

Sky is led by CEO Dana Strong. It not only operates pay-TV and streaming businesses in the U.K., Ireland and Italy, but has also been growing its telecom offerings, such as broadband and mobile phone operations. Sky also owns the production arm Sky Studios, which is led by Cécile Frot-Coutaz and has been growing its investment in original content creation. Recent Sky Studios productions have included the likes of Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel, and The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.

While confirming overnight reports of deal talks, ITV on Friday also emphasized that a transaction for its M&E division with Comcast’s Sky may ultimately not come together. “There can be no certainty as to the terms upon which any potential sale may be agreed or whether any transaction will take place,” its statement highlighted. “A further announcement will be made in due course if appropriate.”

lTV is led by CEO Carolyn McCall. The news of the deal talks came after ITV said on Thursday that it was planning $46 million in “temporary,” or “one-off,” cost savings amid “softer” advertising demand in the fourth quarter.

Comcast’s potential play for parts of ITV comes at a time when it also seems to be exploring a potential bid for parts of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Overnight reports said that Comcast has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to evaluate a possible deal for the David Zaslav-led Hollywood conglomerate’s studio and streaming businesses, following WBD’s recent decision to explore various deal options.

Why Canal+ Wants To Acquire Comcast's Stake In Showmax?

Canal+ plans to roll out a “super app” as MultiChoice becomes wholly owned by the company which would combine DStv and Showmax's operations. Even offer content from third party platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Although, Canal+ had stated they had no intention of closing Showmax this super app might be their way of gradually phasing out the brand. They aren't pleased with the notion that MultiChoice would launch a platform that would rival with DStv.

Aside from Showmax, the combined company would also be operating DStv Stream, Canal+ app and VIU. They are assessing whether to keep these services separated or merge them hence the super app.

The biggest roadblock to its integration plans would be Comcast's 30% stake in the streamer. Disney had to go back and forth with the company in order to merge with Hulu and Disney+ this is what could await Canal+ in its pursuit for Showmax.

Some outlets had even talked about how Canal+ could potentially sell their stake and I can only assume similar to DStv, the company is optimising for growth. Showmax is the third most used streaming service behind Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, Fabric reports.

As for content, there's a very high possibility that Canal+ will axe and merge Showmax's content slate with that of DStv. They had produced about 4000 hours of African content while MultiChoice had 6000 hours combined they'd have 10,000 hours in a year.

Would Canal+ really need Showmax if they can curate 10,000 hours of content in 20 to 35 languages for DStv alone?

Canal+ Looking To Acquire Comcast's Stake In Showmax

Canal+ is mulling the possibility of buying out the remaining stake in African streaming platform, Showmax, from Comcast Corporation.

According to Bloomberg, this is part of efforts by the French media firm to consolidate its operations on the continent after it bought controlling stakes in Multichoice, the owners of GOtv and DStv, which owns the rest of Showmax.

Currently, the company is working with advisers on the potential purchase of Comcast’s 30 per cent stake in Showmax, which is the largest streaming platform in Africa.

The people familiar with discussions also told the publication that the considerations are preliminary and there’s no guarantee they would lead to a transaction.

Comcast acquired the stake in Showmax from MultiChoice through its NBCUniversal unit in 2023, and relaunched the streaming service last year on its Peacock streaming platform.

An acquisition could offer support to Showmax which competes with other large streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon’s Prime on the continent. Unlike the latter duo, Showmax is only available in Africa with a presence in 44 countries including Nigeria.

Canal+ is moving ahead with its plans for a secondary inward listing on South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) after taking full control of Showmax’s owner MultiChoice last month.

Canal+ now holds 94.39 per cent of MultiChoice’s shares and will acquire the remaining stake under Section 124(1) of South Africa’s Companies Act, which permits compulsory acquisition when an offer has been accepted by shareholders holding more than 90 per cent of target shares.

MultiChoice shares will be suspended from trading on JSE and A2X beginning Monday, October 27, with complete delisting expected on December 10, subject to regulatory approvals.

Remaining MultiChoice shareholders have until December 5 to exercise their rights to apply to a court regarding the acquisition. After this date, Canal+ will proceed with the compulsory purchase at the same terms and consideration as the original offer.

The transaction has received necessary regulatory approvals, including from South Africa’s Financial Surveillance Department.

The payment to remaining shareholders will be made on December 5, with unclaimed funds held in trust according to legal requirements.

MSNBC To Change Name To MS NOW Under Versant

MSNBC will change its name to My Source News Opinion World (MS NOW) and unveil a new logo later this year as part of the cable news channel’s spinoff from the Comcast-owned media company NBCUniversal.

Comcast announced last year that it would spin off most of its cable television networks into a separate publicly traded company called Versant. The new company will include MSNBC and the financial news channel CNBC as well as the USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel.

The branding changes represent Versant’s emphasis on “building our individual identity and vision for the future while laying a foundation for the continued growth and success of our businesses,” Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said in a memo to staff Monday morning.

“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family,” Lazarus said. “This gives us the opportunity to charge our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization following the spin.”

MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said the network will not change editorial direction as it builds out its own newsgathering operation entirely separate from NBC News. (MSNBC launched in 1996 as a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft.)

“While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not,” Kutler said in an internal memo. “Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades.”

The rebrand will be accompanied by a national marketing campaign “unlike anything we have done in recent memory,” Kutler said.

CNBC, for its part, will keep the acronym “Consumer News and Business Channel” but will debut a new logo without the peacock.

Comcast will retain NBCUniversal assets such as the NBC broadcast network, NBC News, NBC Sports, the streaming platform Peacock and the cable brand Bravo.

NBCUniversal's Spinoff Company Versant Unveils It's Content Slate For 2025/6 Season

NBCUniversal’s spin-off company Versant has revealed its first programming slate, with 16 new titles in the pipeline for 2025/26 including new scripted originals for cablenets Syfy and USA Network and unscripted titles for E! and Oxygen True Crime.

USA Network ordered The Rainmaker, a legal drama from Lionsgate Television and Blumhouse Television based on a John Grisham novel of the same name. The series follows a law school graduate who ends up uncovering two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of a client’s son.

Anna Pigeon, based on the bestselling novels by Nevada Barr, was also greenlit by USA Network. Produced by Cineflix Studios and December Films, the project follows a former city slicker who becomes a park ranger and turns her attentions to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds. Morwyn Brebner is showrunner.

USA Network also commissioned Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman (WWE Studios and BrightNorth Studios), a culinary series following the WWE wrestler as he eats his way across America.

Syfy commissioned a zombie series based on comic series Revival, produced by Blue Ice Pictures and Hemmings Films. The project is set in a world where zombies are revived and appear and act just like they did before. The cast includes Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott and Andy McQueen.

E! Commissioned unscripted titles Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane (Hartbeat), Plastic Surgery Rewind (Fulwell Entertainment), Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour (32 Flavors) and three instalments in a new franchise called Dirty Rotten Scandals focused on the dark side of America’s Next Top Model, the Dr Phil Show and The Price is Right.

Oxygen True Crime ordered The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher (Wolf Entertainment), murder mystery series The Killer Among Us hosted by Alan Cumming, The Death Row Informant (Wolf Entertainment, Fireside Pictures, Universal Television Alternative Studios, Vanity Fair Studios), The Silent Serial Killer: Gretzler (Glass Entertainment), Killer Grannies (Jarrett Creative) and The Boston Stranglers (This is Just a Test).

Versant, set to be spun off from Comcast by the end of the year, consists of USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen True Crime, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel, in addition to digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and SportsEngine. The programming team for the company was confirmed last week.

“Our audiences are among the most devoted in the industry, and their passion fuels everything we do,” said Versant’s president of entertainment Val Boreland. “By uniting the power of our iconic brands with a commitment to bold, original storytelling, we’re deepening our connection with viewers in meaningful ways. We’re proud to unveil this exciting new programming slate as we move forward under our new name.”

E! Entertainment, CNBC And Various Other Channels From NBCUniversal To Fold Under New Company Called Versant

The spinoff of Comcast‘s cable networks has a name: Versant.

Mark Lazarus, who will lead the new unit, wrote in a memo to staffers, “Versant represents more than a name – it speaks to our adaptability and embraces the opportunity to shape a new, modern media company. There were many considerations for a suitable name. Our internal team of incredibly skilled and experienced brand marketers, designers and media tacticians took into account our overarching goal to influence culture, connect communities and signify a unified direction forward.”

Since the spinoff of MSNBC, CNBC and other cable networks was announced last year, the entity has gone by SpinCo.

Lazarus added, “We would be foolish to expect everyone to love the name of our new company immediately. There were certainly some others that we could have gotten behind, but after sitting with Versant for a couple of weeks now, I believe it will suit us well, evoke a sense of energy, and underscore our role in driving progress.”

Lazarus also said that the company headquarters would be in Manhattan.

Other networks included in the spinoff, expected to be completed later this year, are USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel.

With NBC News no longer a sister network, MSNBC has been building up a news division. Yet to be announced is how the network plans to approach streaming. MSNBC shows had appeared on Peacock, but that platform will remain in the Comcast fold.

The choice of a media company name invites quick reaction and judgment, especially in an era when so many entities choose uncommon words, like Axios and Semafor, or a partial anagram, like Tegna, from its spinoff from Gannett. Some names have been outright duds, most prominently Tronc, the name given to Tribune Publishing in 2016 only to be dropped two years later.

According an audio announcement from brand marketers Lisa Fleming and Mike DeRienzo, thousands of names were considered, but only 43 passed “preliminary knockout.” Of that, 25 were cleared domestically. That was narrowed to 12 finalists that were presented to the leadership team.

The field of options continued to narrow, with a top three selected to go through international clearance. All three did.

They then went into “design exploration,” including logos. “After months of presentations and conversations, a clear winner rose to the top, and that was Versant,” DeRienzo said. Versant actually is a real word, meaning the slope of a mountain. “It says strength, forward movement,” he said.

By contrast, MSNBC will retain its name, even though NBC will no longer be part of the network. The “MS” stood for Microsoft, as the network initially was joint venture with Microsoft. The tech giant sold its stake in 2005.

Is Comcast's SpinCo Another Canal+'s LicenceCo As The Company Remains Silent On The Future Of It's Cable Networks On DStv And The Rest Of The World?

Later in the year, Comcast will be offloading most of its cable networks under the entity SpinCo while retaining NBC, Bravo and Telemundo. Questions hovering around this transaction is how Universal TV, E!, Studio Universal and DreamWorks Channel which are currently seen on MultiChoice's DStv will survive in the long run.

With media companies prioritising streaming outlets and leaving very little content for broadcasters like M-Net has led channels to close or Comedy Central and Telemundo's case little content. In such scenarios, a company can look to offload a network I mean look at SpinCo it claimed it's first victim, Universal Kids.

MultiChoice SA is set to undergo a potential restructuring in the coming months should Canal+ be able to get LicenceCo of the ground. This entity which is owned by Phuthuma Nathi and two historically disadvantaged businesses that will exist to benefit MultiChoice and work closely with them to manage DStv subscriptions and the content.

This doesn't include its services in other countries meaning DStv and Showmax will continue to be properties of MultiChoice while in South Africa only one of the two (Showmax) will form part of the acquired company.

Comcast in its attempt to build SpinCo has been very hush hush about the future of its cable networks in other countries and Sky Group which kind of begs the question. Is SpinCo just like LicenceCo an entity existing to benefit Comcast and working closely with the company to leverage of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation.

Internationally, these networks haven't been too dependant on their studios and SpinCo just feels like Comcast's way of duplicating an existing trait to the United States. I mean they had stated most of the content seen on SpinCo isn't on Peacock and this is how international feeds are aligned.

Besides both entities will have the same investors so there's no reason to think why not in this case. Although, Comcast is losing money from these networks in the United States there is still a lot of dependency in other countries so I'd imagine Comcast's international business will become MultiChoice or LicenceCo.

This is the only way DreamWorks Channel and Telemundo (in Africa) can survive from such a corporate structure.

With more focus shifting toward streaming services, SpinCo doesn't have much options when it comes to programming so I'd imagine them leveraging off Comcast for the foreseeable future. MSNBC and CNBC being news channels can build an identity outside of NBC News.

DStv Without DreamWorks Channel And Telemundo??? Comcast Unveils What Might Be The Future Of NBCUniversal Channels Following Spin-Off

Last year, Comcast made the announcement that most of its cable networks viewed on DStv such as Universal TV, E!, Studio Universal and Telemundo will form part of a standalone company under the working title SpinCo. The media has been trying to get more details about the spinoff but Comcast remains hush hush.

What is already known now is that MSNBC and CNBC will not undergo a name change of course that doesn't mean they won't make adjustments to the channel's offering or have corporate's logo exempted. MSNBC and CNBC after the spinoff would be rivalling with Comcast's NBC News so they would need to be some division. 

Even after Disney acquired FOX, they were still able to use the FOX Extended (FX) trademark with font and styling matching the former owners despite not being able to associate themselves with FOX. This does lead us to wonder whether Universal TV and Studio Universal will retain their trademarks.

In their earnings call, Comcast had mentioned that 98% of the viewing on Peacock does not include the spun networks. That's what's already seen with Universal TV and content wise it fits USA Network like a glove with the channel in Canada maybe SpinCo has expansion plans on the cards.

Of course, the fates of DreamWorks Channel and Telemundo Africa remain undecided cause if we're looking back on this statement about Peacock it's evident here that these two don't align with SpinCo. The only way I can see these two survive would be if MultiChoice in Africa or another company were to handle it's operations.

DreamWorks Channel was picked up by MultiChoice in Africa by 2023 offering award-winning shows and films based on Dragons, Shrek and The Croods. It would be damaging for the channel to get close like its American counterpart Universal Kids but Comcast has a history e.g. Style Network and G4.

It's not like the channel had first run programs it was more like 1Max where majority of its content is imported and licensed to other broadcasters. As much as I want to see DreamWorks Channel live through 2030, with the affects of streaming companies are scaling back so eventually we're all gonna kick the bucket.

As for Telemundo, this is a channel that is lagging behind rivals such as TelevisaUnivision's TLNovelas when it comes to content and reach. The channel has a following due to Lord Of The Skies, Nurses and My Heart Beats For Lola and is what inspired the launches of Zee World and now defunct Glow TV.

Comcast had promised that the spinoffs will fulfill whatever obligation is required and we can only assume that some of these brands will continue to operate in Africa. 

My best guess is Universal TV, E!, CNBC, MSNBC and Studio Universal will form part of SpinCo as it fits with their structure while DreamWorks Channel and Telemundo are over and out. Of course, Comcast can be regarded as a shareholder within MultiChoice particularly for its 30% stake in Showmax.

If anything, maybe the two could come to some agreement where fragments of both brands continue residing within DStv. I mean that what's already seen DreamWorks Channel's UK counterpart Sky Kids and this wouldn't be first time MultiChoice curates something on an IP e.g. WWE.

MSNBC Will Not Undergo A Name Change Once It Is Spun Off From Comcast

 MSNBC will retain its name after it is spun off from Comcast along with other cable assets.

Mark Lazarus, who is leading the new company, told network staffers of the plans at a meeting today to announce the departure of Rashida Jones as the network’s president and the naming of Rebecca Kutler as interim leader, according to a network source.

“I know there was some discussion with the MSNBC name, so you can take that off of your worry list on things,” Lazarus said at the meeting.

Kutler also will be hiring a head of newsgathering and head of talent, Lazarus said. Throughout its history, MSNBC has drawn on correspondents and anchors from sister network NBC News, which will remain part of Comcast.

Lazarus said, “The only thing I’ll say is the worst thing any leader can do is change something that’s working just because they can. So, if this is working, then there’s no reason to change it.”

The spinoff, announced in November, is expected to take about a year to complete. It also will include USA Network, CNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel.

MSNBC launched in 1996 as a venture between NBC News and Microsoft. It had a heavy emphasis on the then-emerging internet, but its primetime eventually evolved into a progressive alternative to right-leaning Fox News.

Rumour: Universal Kids, The American Counterpart Of DreamWorks Channel Is Shutting Down

A major shakeup is happening to one of NBCUniversal’s linear channels. Universal Kids, a channel focused on children’s programming is shutting down later this year.

Cord Cutters News first learned that it will reportedly shut down on March 6, 2025, which is the day it’s also being removed from Spectrum TV.

Launched in 2005 as PBS Kids Sprout, the network changed its name to Sprout in 2009. In 2013, Comcast, the parent company of NBCU, acquired a full ownership stake in the network and fully rebranded it to Universal Kids in 2017.

Over the years, the network was home to popular children’s shows including Sesame Street, The Berenstain Bears, Where’s Waldo, American Ninja Warrior Junior, The Wiggles, and other NBCUniversal programming.

The network was aiming to compete with Disney Junior and the Nick Jr. Channel in the children’s programming space. However, Universal Kids struggled to maintain viewership in an increasingly competitive market with the rise of streaming services like Netflix, and Disney+.

This news comes months after it was announced that Comcast has officially spun off its linear TV networks, including USA Network and MSNBC into SpinCo. The Universal Kids shutdown and the spinoff are part of a larger strategy by NBCUniversal to streamline its operations and focus on more profitable ventures. The spinoff will take around one year to complete as NBCU tries to navigate through the ongoing transformation within the media industry.

NBCU hasn’t officially announced if the channel is going dark however, Cord Cutters News has independently confirmed that the network is shutting down on March 6, 2025.

This was originally published by Cord Cutter News.

Comcast Spin-Off Looking To Buy More TV Channels And Expand The Streaming Market

The cable-TV networks business being spun off by Comcast Corp. will explore acquiring other cable channels and creating its own streaming services to grow after separating from its parent.

Channels specializing in documentaries or food-related shows are among the options for the new company, according to people familiar with the plans. Those are two programming areas the current portfolio lacks.

The spinoff, which hasn’t been named, could also create its own streaming business or packages of channels for online distributors like Amazon.com Inc., said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing nonpublic information. The spinoff will likely negotiate its own distribution deals with pay-TV distributors when its current contracts run out.

Philadelphia-based Comcast on Wednesday formally announced plans to divest most of its cable-TV networks, including MSNBC, CNBC and the USA Network, into a new publicly traded company. The networks generated about $7 billion in revenue over the past 12 months and reach about 70 million US households, the company said. 

Cable networks have been a drag on Comcast’s business as consumers continue to cancel pay-TV services in favor of streaming options like Netflix Inc. While the spinoff doesn’t need to acquire more channels, that could be an option as pay-TV distributors look to create more bespoke packages of channels with network owners. 

Comcast is keeping the NBC broadcast network and the Peacock streaming service. While Peacock is losing money, it is considered a growth business as consumers switch to online viewing. The most popular programming on both is sports, and Comcast has decade-long rights for the NFL and, starting next year, the NBA. Programs from the channels being spun off represent just 2% of the viewing on Peacock, the people said. 

Bravo, a channel specializing in reality TV, is also staying with Comcast because its programming is popular on streaming. Spanish-language network Telemundo will also remain part of Comcast because its audience is considered a growth market. 

In a potential bright spot in a media industry buffeted by layoffs in recent year, the spinoff could be opportunity for Comcast to avoid some job reductions: The new company will need to build its own corporate infrastructure. The company will negotiate intercompany agreements on issues like advertising sales, programming and other corporate services. 

Mark Lazarus, who’ll be chief executive officer of the new business, told employees Wednesday that a new name for the MSNBC news network could be among the changes, according to Variety.

Under the spinoff plan, shareholders of Comcast will receive stock in the new company, which will also include Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel. It will also own complementary digital assets including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and Sports Engine.

Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts, who holds a one-third voting stake in his company, will have a similar holding in the new company. 

The spinoff is expected to take a year to be completed. 

DreamWorks, Telemundo, CNBC, MSNBC, Universal TV And Studio Universal May Have To Undergo A Name Change Under Comcast's Spun Off Company

As some readers are aware, NBCUniversal similar to Disney is looking to reducing its linear portfolio in the coming years with NBC, Telemundo and Bravo being what's left of the company alongside Peacock. As E!, CNBC, MSNBC and Universal TV are all being spun off under a separate company which will be financed by few shareholders at Comcast.

MultiChoice currently supplies channels like Universal TV, E!, Telemundo, Studio Universal, DreamWorks, CNBC and MSNBC from NBCUniversal. With this separation, these channels will look unrecognizable in the coming years not only by what it chooses to air but also by name.

Comcast plans to retain the studios used to produce the content viewed by these channels and if we're reading between the lines E! won't own The Real Housewives as much as DreamWorks won't own Shrek. Yes, it's likely that when this spinoff occurs they'll try to retain as much of their former selfs but overtime it will change.

Considering these aren't members of Comcast, what is likely to transpire now is that the latter will have to undergo a name change or close altogether. This is what happened when Disney acquired FOX it had to remove the FOX trademark from various properties while it's linear channels either closed or rebranded to FX/Star.

It will be interesting to see what identity these channels take up once this whole ordeal unfolds by 2025 as Comcast holds the NBC, Telemundo and Universal trademarks. What I imagine them doing particularly with Telemundo is dissolving the brand as SpinCo doesn't own the content and is likely to prioritize on their "more broader channels".

DreamWorks, another TV channel like Telemundo is the broader channel and SpinCo could try to capitalise on its success. NBCUniversal has always been a local when it comes to its linear portfolio, internationally this was also spearheaded by what is known as SpinCo but this time it has do it without these studios in its pocket.

"SpinCo": Comcast Unveils Spun Off Company Home To Brands Like MSNBC And E!

The company announced a plan Wednesday that will offload the bulk of NBCUniversal‘s financially challenged cable portfolio — excluding Bravo — into a new entity owned by Comcast shareholders. The thinking is the new company will be positioned to acquire other media and digital properties, to gain greater scale in an increasingly streaming-focused landscape. Alternatively, the separation of the NBCU cable group would make it easier to sell the business.

The spin-off company will house MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel. In addition, the company will include digital assets including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, online golf-course booking service GolfNow and youth-sports platform SportsEngine. Comcast said it is structured as a tax-free spin-off.

The new NBCU cable TV company — currently dubbed “SpinCo” — will be led by CEO Mark Lazarus, who has served as chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group since July 2023, overseeing the company’s TV and streaming operations.

“When you look at our assets, talented management team and balance sheet strength, we are able to set these businesses up for future growth,” Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement. “With significant financial resources from day one, SpinCo will be ideally positioned for success and highly attractive to investors, content creators, distributors and potential partners.”

Comcast stock was up about 2% in premarket trading, to over $43/share, off its 52-week high of $47.11.

Post-spin, NBCUniversal will comprise the NBC broadcast network and stations, the Peacock streaming service, Bravo (the reality TV powerhouse seen as a key to Peacock’s success), NBC News Group, NBC Sports, Telemundo, the Universal theme parks and resorts, and NBCU’s film and television studios. The “new” NBCU will be led by Matt Strauss, who will become chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group overseeing Peacock, NBC Sports, ad sales, distribution, research and affiliate relations; and longtime content executive Donna Langley, who is assuming the role of chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios, expanding her purview to include full oversight of all entertainment programming and marketing across Peacock, Bravo and NBC (including primetime and late night).

the role of CFO and chief operating officer.

Lazarus commented: “As a standalone company with these outstanding assets, we will be better positioned to serve our audiences and drive shareholder returns in this incredibly dynamic media environment across news, sports and entertainment. We see a real opportunity to invest and build additional scale, and I’m excited about the growth opportunities this transition will unlock.”

The article was originally published by Variety 

How Comcast Plans To Ditch Several NBCUniversal Channels Affects DStv?

MultiChoice currently supplies channels like Universal TV, E!, Telemundo, Studio Universal, DreamWorks, CNBC and MSNBC from NBCUniversal. As reported, NBCUniversal's parent company Comcast is planning to ditch these channels and make them into a separate company.

Similar to how Naspers dumped MultiChoice and Irdeto now that is being eyed by French broadcaster Canal+. The same potential owner is also being abandoned by its parent company with some of its shareholders joining the spin off and what do all these entities have in common - TV channels.

There are some former DStv customers celebrating right now that more people will likely abandon the platform if these channels ceased to exist when this plans enter fruition. But this is a bad thing yes some would prefer Wednesday or Squid Games on Netflix but there's plenty of people that are still in it for DStv particularly these channels.

Now that Comcast from the looks of things are dumping NBCUniversal probably even Sky Group as majority of their existence centers on these channels. Questions amount to how E! and DreamWorks will survive such in a transaction even Telemundo are their existence centred on originality.

E! has been winding down it's operations in parts of Europe and I can imagine various shareholders in this spun off company looking to simplify it's operations. Then there's DreamWorks even if the plan was to retain the channel it would look unrecognizable in the coming years relying on imports.

Sure Cartoon Network has been doing this for several years but a majority would expect 100% DreamWorks from its own channel. I expect once this spinoff happens for brands like DreamWorks to undergo a name change. This is what happened when Disney acquired FOX they didn't own the trademark like they did it's studios and channels.

Presuming DreamWorks will morph into Universal Kids but then again it all depends on what the higher ups decide at this point I can imagine them looking to simplify their operations. E! has closed down in the UK and parts of Europe more could follow maybe Telemundo as they prioritize other brands.

MultiChoice had already dealt with such a blow from Disney after it closed FOX, FOX Life and Disney XD. None of these brands were replaced leaving an empty void on top of the recent bloodbath of Me as it merged with 1Magic to form a premium channel known as 1Max, we could just be dealing with even less content.

Comcast Plans Massive Cable Spin-Off, Separating USA, MSNBC and More From NBC, Theme Parks

Comcast is planning to spin off most of its cable television networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a separate publicly traded company, according to executives with knowledge of the plan.

The spinoff is expected to be formally announced on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the impending announcement on Tuesday evening, said the involved channels also include USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal division is keeping Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, the Peacock streaming service, and all of its other assets, like NBC Sports and the Universal theme parks.

The separate cable channel company will have the same sort of ownership structure as Comcast, but will have its own management team, led by NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus, who will become CEO of the new venture.

While observers may view the spinoff as an attempt to shed cable channels that are losing value in the streaming age, the channels still contribute strong profits to Comcast’s bottom line. The company’s executives are expected to portray the spinoff as a growth opportunity for an industry in transition, with an eye toward acquiring other channels in the future.

Of course, the standalone cable network venture could also attract buyers as well as sellers. Wall Street analysts are predicting further consolidation of major media companies in the years ahead.

Comcast president Mike Cavanaugh foreshadowed the spinoff during a conference call with investors last month. He said the company was going to study whether it was a good idea to create “a new well-capitalized company that would go to our shareholders” comprised of “our cable portfolio networks.”

The study evidently did not take long.

Craig Moffett, an analyst with MoffettNathanson, told Variety that “investors have yearned for exactly this, or at least something close to it, for years.”

Notably, the spinoff will cleave MSNBC and CNBC, two profitable parts of the NBCUniversal News Group, away from the core news-gathering operation of NBC News. In recent years NBC has tried to bring its broadcast and cable news operations closer together. Now they may be peeled back apart.

Comcast Considering Spinning Off TV Networks As More Households Opt For Streaming

During a tumultuous moment for the TV business, NBCUniversal owner Comcast says that it may pursue some major deals to adapt to the changing environment.

For starters, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said that the company is weighing a spinoff of its cable networks, which include USA Network, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC and Syfy. He emphasized that the NBC broadcast network and Peacock would remain with the core company.

“Like many of our peers in media, we are experiencing the effects of the transition in our video businesses, and have been studying the best path forward for these assets. We are now exploring whether creating a new well-capitalized company owned by our shareholders and comprised of our strong portfolio of cable networks would position them to take advantage of opportunities in the changing media landscape and create value for our shareholders,” Cavanagh told Comcast’s third-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday. “We are not ready to talk about any specifics yet, but we’ll be back to you if and when we reach firm conclusions.”

And he added that the company is interested in seeking a partner for its Peacock streaming service in a bid to grow the business.

“As you know, we chose not to participate in the M&A process around Paramount in the earlier part of this year, but we would consider partnerships in streaming despite their complexities,” he said.

Spinning out the cable channels would transform the company’s TV business and would lead to complications for MSNBC and CNBC, which are currently integrated into NBC News. Similarly, shows from Bravo (like Watch What Happens Live and the Real Housewives franchise) are popular on streaming service Peacock.

There has been speculation in the industry that a legacy company with cable channels could launch a rollup vehicle, something that could acquire other channels to build scale, giving it the ability to drive harder bargains with pay TV providers and pursuing other options in streaming.

Cavanagh declined to address that directly on the call, but said that if the company pursues a spinoff, it could “play some offense.”

On the streaming front, while Peacock has acceptable scale (it now has 36 million subscribers), Comcast clearly thinks that working with another partner can make it a more compelling competitor to Netflix. The two logical possible partners are Paramount+ — with executives there openly discussing a partnership — or Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max.

As for the choice to announce their decision to look into the possibilities, Cavanagh said that they wanted to disclose the idea to Wall Street early, rather than have it leak out later.

“The reason we’re announcing here is that we want to study it, there are a lot of questions to which we don’t have answers,” Cavanagh said. “So we want to do the work, with transparency around it, so that — as you know, rumors fly and the like, you know, we expect that — but we want our shareholders to understand what we’re willing to look at.”

Comcast To Launch Peacock, Netflix And Apple TV+ Bundle At A 'Vastly Reduced Price'

Get ready for the next cable-like streaming bundle: Comcast later this month will launch a three-way bundle — with Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ — offered at a deep discount, Comcast chief Brian Roberts said.

Dubbed StreamSaver, the bundle will be available to all Comcast broadband, TV and mobile customers, Roberts said, speaking Tuesday at MoffettNathanson’s 2024 Media, Internet and Communications Conference in New York.

The three streaming services, Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+, will “come at a vastly reduced price to anything available today,” Roberts said, although he didn’t reveal any pricing details. The goal is to “add value to consumers” and “take dollars out” of other companies’ streaming businesses, he added, while reinforcing Comcast’s broadband service offerings.

“This will be a pretty compelling package,” Roberts promised.

Last week, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a three-way bundle comprising Max, Disney+ and Hulu, to be available starting this summer in the U.S. (with pricing TBA). In addition, Disney, WBD and Fox Corp. have formed a joint venture to launch a streaming sports bundle stocked with ESPN+ and linear TV networks from each, slated to debut this fall. Critics have alleged the venture, which some have dubbed “Spulu” (a mash-up of “sports” and “Hulu”), is anticompetitive and violates antitrust law.

Like the other streaming bundling strategies, Comcast’s forthcoming Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ package is an effort to reduce cancelation rates (aka “churn”) and provide a more efficient means of subscriber acquisition — coming as the traditional cable TV business continues to deteriorate.

Warner Bros. Discovery Looking To Acquire Assets Of Companies Flirting With Or For Filing For Bankruptcy, Hints At The Demise Of Paramount Global And NBCUniversal

Chief Executive David Zaslav and board member John Malone both made comments this week suggesting the company is paying down debt and building up free cash flow to set up acquisitions in the next two years of media businesses suffering from diminished valuations.

The targets could be companies flirting with or filing for bankruptcy, Malone said in an exclusive interview with CNBC on Thursday. While U.S. regulators may frown at large media companies coming together because of overlaps with studio, cable or broadcasting assets, they'll be much more forgiving if the companies are struggling to survive, Malone told David Faber.

"I think we're going to see very serious distress in our industry," Malone said. "There is an exemption to the antitrust laws on a failing business. At some point of distress, right, then some of the restrictions, they look the other way."

Media company valuations have been plummeting amid streaming video losses, traditional TV subscriber defections, and a down advertising market. This has affected Warner Bros. Discovery as much as its peers. The company's market valuation recently fell below $23 billion, its lowest point since WarnerMedia and Discovery merged last year. The company ended the third quarter with about $43 billion in net debt.

Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to position itself to be an acquirer, rather than a distressed asset, itself, by paying down debt and increasing cash flow, Zaslav said during his company's earnings conference call this week. Warner Bros. Discovery has paid down $12 billion and expects to generate at least $5 billion in free cash flow this year, the company said.

"We're surrounded by a lot of companies that are – don't have the geographic diversity that we have, aren't generating real free cash flow, have debt that are presenting issues," Zaslav said Thursday. "We're de-levering at a time when our peers are levering up, at a time when our peers are unstable, and there is a lot of excess competitive – excess players in the market. So, this will give us a chance not only to fight to grow in the next year, but to have the kind of balance sheet and the kind of stability ... that we could be really opportunistic over the next 12 to 24 months."

Still, Warner Bros. Discovery also acknowledged it will miss its own year-end leverage target of 2.5 to 3 times adjusted earnings as the TV ad market struggles and linear TV subscription revenue declines.

Buying from distress

Malone has some experience with profiting from times of distress.

His Liberty Media acquired a 40% stake in Sirius XM over several years more than a decade ago, saving it from bankruptcy. Since then, the equity value of the satellite radio company has bounced back from nearly zero to about $5 per share. Sirius XM currently has a market capitalization of about $18 billion.

"It made us a lot of money with Sirius," Malone told Faber.

While Malone didn't name a specific company as a target for Warner Bros. Discovery, he discussed Paramount Global as an example of a company whose prospects seem shaky. Paramount Global's market valuation has slumped below $8 billion while carrying about $16 billion in debt.

Malone noted that Paramount's debt was recently downgraded. "I think that they're running probably negative free cash flow," he said.

Paramount Global's third-quarter cash flow was $377 million, and the company has forecast a return to positive free cash flow in 2024.

While Paramount Global shares have fallen precipitously since Viacom and CBS merged in 2019, there are signs the company is shoring up its balance sheet. CEO Bob Bakish said earlier this month Paramount Global's streaming losses will be lower in 2023 than 2022, and the company expects further improvement to losses in 2024. The company closed a sale for book publisher Simon & Schuster for $1.6 billion and will use the proceeds to pay down debt.

Paramount Global is one of the few assets that logically fits Malone's vision of a media asset that would have regulatory issues as an acquisition with potential distress concerns. Comcast's NBCUniversal, another potential merger partner, will lose more than $2 billion this year on its streaming service, Peacock, but the media giant is shielded by its parent company, the largest U.S. broadband provider.

"Warner Bros. [Discovery] now is making money. Not a lot, but they're making money," Malone said. "Peacock is losing a lot of money. Paramount is losing a ton of money that they can't afford. At least [Comcast CEO] Brian [Roberts] can afford to lose the money."

Paramount Global's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone is open to a transformative transaction, CNBC reported last month. Puck's Dylan Byers recently reported that industry insiders have speculated Warner Bros. Discovery might pursue an acquisition of Paramount Global after the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

A combination of NBCUniversal and Paramount Global also has strategic logic, but the combination of two national broadcast networks — Comcast's NBC and Paramount Global's CBS — would present a significant regulatory hurdle. Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't own a broadcast network, making an acquisition of CBS easier.

Spokespeople for Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.

While Malone said all legacy media companies should be talking to each other about merger synergies, he acknowledged valuations may have to fall farther to get regulators on board with further consolidation. Malone predicted that could happen in the same timeline Zaslav gave — within the next two years.

"Eventually maybe there'll be regulatory relief," Malone said. "Out of distress usually comes the reduction in competition, increased pricing power, and the opportunity to buy assets at a deep discount."

Comcast, Parent Company Of NBCUniversal To Rollout Fourth Kids Brand In The UK, Sky Kids

Sky, a division of Comcast and in some way the UK version of NBCUniversal announced the rollout of Sky Kids bringing the total number of kids to 4 from February 2023.

As you may recall, NBCUniversal is responsible for conceiving the other 3 brands. DreamWorks being the eldest has been dominating the cinema circuit, Universal Kids the middle man is going through troubled times and the last Peacock Kids is still in daycare.

Sky Kids, the pay-tv children's channel sets out to be fourth edition to the trio exclusively in the UK. Home to ad-free 24-hour programming, the new channel will showcase quality Sky Originals and big names that kids love and parents can trust.

Some of the content announced include originals such as My Friend Misty, Ready, Eddie, Go!, Dino Club and The Very Small Creatures alongside other content like TrollsTopia, Where’s Wally, Madagascar a Little Wild, and Clifford The Big Red Dog.

Insidus Games:
- Bugs Bunny & Lola Bunny: Operation Carrot Patch
- Buzz Lightyear Star Command
- Fix It Fun! Bob The Builder
- Daffy Duck: Fowl Play

Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content at Sky said:

“We’re so excited to announce the launch of our brand-new linear channel. Millions of our customers already love watching our huge range of Original shows on-demand but families with younger kids have told us that watching on linear channels is an important part of their day; so, we’ve listened and expanded our Sky Kids offering at no extra cost.

“The new channel will have a whole breadth of brand new and much-loved shows for kids and families to enjoy and we can’t wait to reveal the full fantastic line-up of shows.”

Regular Nick:
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj to rollout on Nicktoons in Africa
- Two current shows from Boomerang rolling out on the Cartoonito block across Africa
- Moonbug Kids To Distribute New STEAM Focused Series, Ocean Explorers
- New Bear Grylls series is coming soon to Da Vinci Kids

'G4', The American Version Of Britain's Ginx Esports To Go Dark Effective Immediately

Comcast Spectacor, the cable and entertainment giant’s sports and esports division, told G4 TV employees Sunday that the gaming network was shutting down effective immediately. The decision has resulted in 45 staff members of G4 TV losing their jobs.

In a memo, obtained by the press, Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dave Scott cited low viewership and said the network had not achieved “sustainable financial results.”

“Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results,” Scott wrote. “This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.”

Comcast Spectacor in July 2020 said it would reboot G4 TV, which NBCUniversal shut down in 2013 (after the network first launched in 2002). Russell Arons, the former Warner Bros., Machinima, EA and Mattel exec who joined G4 as president in September 2021, left the company two months ago.

The content studio and network officially returned to linear television on Nov. 16, 2021, after more than a year of the group releasing content online to test show new concepts. At launch, G4 TV was available Comcast’s Xfinity TV, Verizon Fios, Cox Communications and internet streaming service Philo. The network’s programming slate brought back fan-favorite legacy G4 shows like “Attack of the Show!” and “Xplay.”

In addition to Arons, Comcast Spectacor had hired two G4 alums: Brian Terwilliger, most recently at WWE and former producer for G4’s “Attack of the Show!”, joined as VP of programming and creative strategy. Blair Herter, who once worked on both “X-Play” and “Attack of the Show!”, had come on board as Comcast Spectacor’s VP of content partnerships and brand development.

G4 had established its own broadcast studio in Burbank, Calif., outfitted for professional esports gameplay. The roster of talent for the short-lived network include returning G4 hosts Kevin Pereira and Adam Sessler; esports personalities Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez (host of NBC’s “The Titan Games”), Ovilee May and Froskurinn; WWE Superstar Xavier Woods (aka Austin Creed); YouTube personalities Kassem G, Jirard “The Completionist” Khalil and Gina Darling; Twitch streamers Fiona Nova and Will Neff; livestreamer CodeMiko; and a “degenerate rat-puppet” named Ratty.

G4’s shutdown was first reported by Deadline.
Read Scott’s Sunday email to G4 staffers:
October 16, 2022

Team:
As you know, G4 was re-introduced last year to tap into the popularity of gaming. We invested to create the new G4 as an online and TV destination for fans to be entertained, be inspired, and connect with gaming content.

Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results. This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.

I know this is disappointing news, and I’m disappointed, too. I want to thank you and everyone on the G4 team for the hard work and commitment to the network. Our human resources team is reaching out to you to provide you with support, discuss other opportunities that may be available, and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you again for all of your hard work for G4.
Sincerely,
Dave Scott
Chairman and CEO
Comcast Spectacor