The Newsroom

Comcast mulls global NBC/Sky News Channel

(April 2019)

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WH
Whataday Founding member
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/comcast-nbcuniversal-news-channel-streaming-1203197654/

Quote:
Comcast is considering the launch of a news channel that would draw from the resources of NBC News and Sky News.

Comcast chairman-CEO Brian Roberts dropped that tidbit during his remarks Thursday morning on the cable giant’s first quarter earnings call with Wall Street analysts. NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke also spoke enthusiastically about NBCU’s progress on its plan to launch an advertising-supported streaming platform.

“We look at this as a way to grow our company and power our company for decades to come,” Burke said of the streaming service that he said is targeted to debut this time next year.

Reps for NBC News declined to elaborate on the news channel discussions referenced by Roberts. “We’re exploring launching a global NBC Sky news channel later this year,” Roberts said.
NL
Ne1L C
Hmm. Would that mean Sky News as we know it vanishing?
JO
Jon
Ne1L C posted:
Hmm. Would that mean Sky News as we know it vanishing?

Doubt it. Just an global channel in edition to domestic services it sounds like.
DV
DVB Cornwall
Not necessarily so, I’d envision it as complimentary and leveraging markets which don’t have a Sky / NBC branded news channel but where Comcast has strong presence or wants to grow such a presence, I’d point to Spain as such a territory. It might of course provide a sustaining overnight feed where geographies permit, UK 0100-0600 for example and the Sky Australia service would be candidates for this approach.
NL
Ne1L C
DVB Cornwall posted:
Not necessarily so, I’d envision it as complimentary and leveraging markets which don’t have a Sky / NBC branded news channel but where Comcast has strong presence or wants to grow such a presence, I’d point to Spain as such a territory. It might of course provide a sustaining overnight feed where geographies permit, UK 0100-0600 for example and the Sky Australia service would be candidates for this approach.


Well Sky News UK is available in Australia so its feasible.
JO
Jon
Although Sky News Australia is nothing to do with Comcast/Sky UK these days.
NL
Ne1L C
I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me.
LL
London Lite Founding member
What it could possibly be is Comcast's answer to CNN International and AJE. Utilise resources of NBC in the US, Sky in the UK (and Germany, Austria and Italy) and possibly Euronews in Lyon and you'd have a global news channel.
RK
Rkolsen
I am interested if this would launch in the US or UK where it could cannibalize the audiences of MSNBC and Sky News UK.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Rkolsen posted:
I am interested if this would launch in the US or UK where it could cannibalize the audiences of MSNBC and Sky News UK.


As long as MSNBC and Sky News keep their domestic editorial agendas, I don't see it being a problem. CNN and CNNi are completely different editorially on the whole. CNN being obsessed with Trump and CNNi with a global agenda (although not as much as it used to be) with sponsored filler at weekends.
IS
Inspector Sands
Ne1L C posted:
Hmm. Would that mean Sky News as we know it vanishing?

I don't see why it would, CNN still exists alongside CNN International, BBC World with BBC News Channel etc.


It's been a bit of a trend over the last couple of decades for domestic news broadcasters to launch international news channels... but I don't think any of them have been commercial, all state/public service broadcasters.

I do wonder though if its a bit late for an international news TV channel, not only are there are so many but aren't they just a bit old fashioned these days?
LL
London Lite Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:


I do wonder though if its a bit late for an international news TV channel, not only are there are so many but aren't they just a bit old fashioned these days?


I don't think so at all. They still play a part in promoting your brand in markets where they wouldn't have a presence otherwise.

What I'm sure Comcast realises is that it won't ever make money, it's purely to get the branding out there with a multi-platform presence. Anything that counteracts the likes of state run RT and TRT World are welcome.

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