NBC PROMISES NOT TO MOVE SUPER BOWL TO PAY-TV

As federal regulators consider the possible antitrust implications of the NBC Universal-Comcast merger, NBC is assuring them that it will not move the Super Bowl and other major sports events from broadcast to cable TV if the merger is approved, MediaPost.com reported Thursday. The website said that it had obtained a summary of an August 11 meeting in Washington between a group of NBC Universal executives, including Dick Ebersol, head of NBC Sports and Olympics and FCC staffers and a Department of Justice attorney. At the meeting the NBCU group outlined some of the financial reasons why big-time sports would remain on NBC, MediaPost said, citing the document. However, it noted, “the contingent also explained that advertising dollars alone are not enough to ‘support broadcast coverage of major sporting events.'” In addition the website reported that Comcast has made a separate pledge to NBC affiliates to keep high-profile sports on broadcast TV.