Comcast Begins Effort to Launch Ten New Independent Networks
Hispanic and African American Owned or Operated Channels to
Highlight First Round of New Additions
PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that it is
taking the first steps to launch ten new independent channels over the
next eight years, including eight that are Hispanic and African American
owned or operated.
?Comcast is committed to providing opportunities for diverse businesses
to expand and grow,? said David Jensen, Vice President of Content
Acquisition for Comcast. ?We look forward to considering a number of
fresh and viable programming proposals from Hispanic and African
American programmers to create new channels that will complement the
robust lineup of programming choices we already offer our customers.?
Of the ten new channels scheduled to be added, Comcast is now accepting
proposals for the first three. One of the channels, which Comcast
intends to launch by July 28, 2012, will be American Latino operated and
programmed in English. The other two will be majority African American
owned and will launch by January 28, 2013. Ultimately, each of the ten
networks will be added on select Comcast systems as part of the D1
digital tier.
The commitment to launch ten new independently owned and operated
networks over the next eight years is one of a series of public interest
commitments made by Comcast in connection with the NBCUniversal
transaction completed earlier this year. Of the ten channels, four will
be majority African American owned, two will be majority Hispanic owned
and two will be operated by American Latino programmers. These criteria
were established based on several agreements Comcast entered into with
leading diversity organizations.
In addition, Comcast recently announced it was expanding carriage of
Mnet, the only 24/7 English-language nationwide television network in
the U.S. targeting Asian Americans and fans of Asian pop culture,
satisfying a commitment in its agreement with leaders of the Asian
American community.
Those who are interested in learning about the terms and conditions of
the channel submissions may visit www.comcast.com/diversityproposal.
Proposals are due by May 31, 2011.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com)
is one of the world?s leading media, entertainment and communications
companies. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable
systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and
distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global
audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation?s
largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential
and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of
NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable
networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television
station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture
company and theme parks.
Source: Comcast Corporation