DOJ Investigating Comcast For Advertising Antitrust Issues Back when regulators blocked Comcast's attempted acquisition of Time Warner Cable, there were rumblings that some of what was uncovered during the review would come back and haunt Comcast. Among them appears to be data related to Comcast's ad business, as the Wall Street Journal today reported that Comcast is facing a possible antitrust investigation into the company's domination of the "spot" cable advertising market:

quote: The investigation is focused on “monopolization or attempted monopolization” of the so-called spot cable ad-sales business in locations where Comcast offers service, according to the document. The document also indicates the government is examining whether Comcast’s ad deals with pay TV rivals are an unlawful restraint of trade. Spot ads are the more local, sometimes lower budget ads that are run alongside the usual assortment of national ads (usually car dealerships or other local fare, but sometimes national brands or even politicians looking to target a specific region). Spot ads are the more local, sometimes lower budget ads that are run alongside the usual assortment of national ads (usually car dealerships or other local fare, but sometimes national brands or even politicians looking to target a specific region). Comcast sells this ad time through a division called Comcast Spotlight. Comcast also spearheads advertiser negotiations on behalf of rival cable operators in many markets. Comcast owns a majority stake in one of the main companies that helps national advertisers buy commercial time from cable providers in local markets (NCC Media, co-owned by Time Warner Cable and Cox). It's not entirely clear what Comcast is specifically doing that managed to get the cable giant on regulators' radar, but it's pretty clear the DOJ saw something in the competitor complaints during the merger review that prompted a deeper inquiry. It's entirely possible that nothing comes of this latest investigation into America's least liked company. "We plan to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice’s inquiry,” Comcast said of the news. "We plan to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice’s inquiry,” Comcast said of the news.







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Most recommended from 12 comments



Rob

Premium Member

join:2001-08-25

Miami, FL 5 recommendations Rob Premium Member America's least liked company. quote: It's entirely possible that nothing comes of this latest investigation into America's least liked company. America's least liked company? It's obvious why. They impose restrictive and anti-consumer data caps, they exempt their online streaming service from the data caps (which I find a huge violation of Net Neutrality), they continually perform poorly in the customer service arena, they hike prices up consistently and now they are being investigated by the DOJ for Antitrust issues.



I'm sure nothing will come from the DOJ's investigation, but at minimal, this should be a red flag that Comcast might be too big and it might be time to look at splitting their assets. America's least liked company? It's obvious why. They impose restrictive and anti-consumer data caps, they exempt their online streaming service from the data caps (which I find a huge violation of Net Neutrality), they continually perform poorly in the customer service arena, they hike prices up consistently and now they are being investigated by the DOJ for Antitrust issues.I'm sure nothing will come from the DOJ's investigation, but at minimal, this should be a red flag that Comcast might be too big and it might be time to look at splitting their assets.

newview

Ex .. Ex .. Exactly

Premium Member

join:2001-10-01

Parsonsburg, MD 5 recommendations newview Premium Member Please dig DEEP, DoJ ANY investigation of Comcast is a GOOD thing.



We can only hope perhaps this will lead to them getting the pee-pee whacked ... again & again.