Can Comcast Cross-Check DirecTV? (CMCSA, DTV, GE)

Can Comcast Cross-Check DirecTV?

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Back in October, I told you about the standoff between DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV ) and Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA ) that was keeping Comcast-owned sports channel Versus off the satellite operator's service and leaving hockey fans in the dark. Versus is the National Hockey League's biggest U.S. broadcast partner.

DirecTV claimed Comcast was asking for an unreasonable amount of money to continue airing Versus, while Comcast said it had an offer on the table that wouldn't cost DirecTV a penny more than what it pays for Versus now. Whatever the real story, it sure looks as though DirecTV was -- and still is -- playing hardball with its largest competitor.

Now that competitor is about to get a whole lot bigger, with Comcast set to take a controlling interest in NBC Universal in the days to come.

NBC, coincidentally, is the NHL's other big U.S. broadcast associate. The network carries marquee weekend games during the second half of the season, including the annual Jan. 1 outdoor match billed as the "Winter Classic." NBC and Versus also happen to share broadcast duties -- and announcers -- for the NHL playoffs, including the Stanley Cup Final.

So the obvious question is: Will the Comcast-NBC partnership be able to exert enough pressure to finally force DirecTV's hand and get a deal done on carrying Versus? Comcast should have a lot more leverage once the cable giant closes its NBC Universal deal with current NBC majority owner General Electric (NYSE: GE ) .

Hockey fans, the season is a quarter of the way done. Let's hear your thoughts on what the merger might accomplish: Sound off in the comments box below.

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Fool online editor Adrian Rush is a longtime Red Wings fan, but he has no position in any of the stocks mentioned here. Try out any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. The Fool's disclosure policy has a wicked slapshot.

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Report this Comment On December 05, 2009, at 11:37 AM, whenpgtvsfly wrote:

You might be right in the short term, but the leverage is completely reversed for at least the next 12 months while the deals crawls through the regulatory process. This will be portrayed as just one more example of what happens with huge distributors own content -- they can use that content ownership to stifle competition in the pay TV market by withholding rights. Comcast will have an incentive to get rid of as many of these perceptions as possible while they are kissing up to DoJ and FCC, I would not be surprised to see this one settle BECAUSE of the NBC deal. After the deal closes is when you'll see the real comcast come back and stick it to direct, dish, the phone companies and anyone else who threatens their cable business.
Report this Comment On December 07, 2009, at 1:39 PM, egold44 wrote:

NHL fans are some of the most passionate on the planet. My friends that have DirecTV are going crazy that they can't watch NHL games on Versus on Mondays and Tuesdays, and can't fathom Versus still not being available when the NHL playoffs start in the spring -- and although I have cable, I suffer when I'm watching somewhere with DirecTV. Too often, hockey fans have to deal with being second fiddle too much (from lockouts, to limited highlights coverage, etc.), and it gets frustrating, especially because we know what's popular often sucks, like Miley Cyrus and New Moon -- I don't watch the NBA, there I said it. Back from tangent, DirecTV is delivering most games on NHL Center Ice (season subscription package) in HD unlike cable which offers it in standard def, so DirecTV is doing better on that front. But, DirecTV is neglecting hockey fans with the Versus situation and all I can say is thank goodness for the NHL Network, which (along with MLB Network) makes SportsCenter completely irrelevant.

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Can Comcast Cross-Check DirecTV?

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Report this Comment On December 05, 2009, at 11:37 AM, whenpgtvsfly wrote:

Report this Comment On December 07, 2009, at 1:39 PM, egold44 wrote:

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