Time Warner's CEO Jeffrey Bewkes doesn't think NBCU makes sense as an acquisition target for Comcast. Their experience with AOL is prime example that synergy is not easy to come by. And content and distribution together may be a deadly combination. They recently separated the two into different companies, Time Warnr Cable for distribution, Time Warner for content. "Mr. Bewkes pointed to Time Warner Cable's recent spin-off from its corporate parent as a sign of media disaggregation done well." The two didn't play well together in the same sandbox.
Should Comcast heed this advice. Does an NBCU-Comcast entity make sense? Can Comcast compete with ESPN in one area of its company and work closely with them in another. "Speaking at a keynote Q&A at TV Week's Innovation 360 conference in New York, Mr. Bewkes described NBCU as a "very complicated" business that might not make total sense for a cable company such as suitor Comcast with a portfolio that includes a broadcast network and a movie studio." Perhaps it is worth listening to this wisdom. Perhaps content and distribution work better separately, than together.
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