Even a takeover can't save NBC

NBC's problems began when it began airing multiple nights of it's news program (Dateline), then spun off one too many Law & Orders, became too reliant on game shows such as Deal or No Deal, introduced too many 'reality' series that cater to niche audiences, then gave up 10pm, which affects local news, it's own late night schedule, and early morning broadcasts.

NBC is practically in tatters and will probably take years to fix, but they're going to need to start somewhere, and they should probably concentrate on one or two nights, and build out. They need to give up on 10pm Leno. And they desperately need new series. Right now it seems like Thursday night is the only night they program, and coincidentally, it's the most competitive night on TV, with everyone else showing something substantial. They need another night. Friday and Saturday are practically throw-away nights, why not program something interesting to offset yourself from the competition? About the ONLY thing NBC did right was acquire Sunday Night Football, but that only lasts so long....

That's it? That's all you wanted to say? These comments are way longer than the "article".

IMHO, NBC's problem is that they are too decisive. If a show starts out well, they'll bank off that for 3-4 years of falling ratings, but if it starts out poor to middling, they won't give it a chance. Shows like Chuck and FNL and Life would get better audiences if NBC went out of their way to promote them and build them up, and NBC has cancelled several other shows before giving them a real chance. They seem to be sort of fatalistic - "oh, you're not doing well? Nothing we can do about that."

Comcast will purchase the deal not because it wants NBC--it likely will sell it off soon after acquiring it--but for the associated cable properties like Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC etc that fit with Comcast's cable business. Stock market may not like anticipated short term results of deal, but the market has little vision or patience for a deal, like this one, that's focused on long term synergies and profitability.

First off, let me state for the record that I HATE Jeffery Immelt for selling out his company to the current administration. That trickle down effect has ruined every aspect of GE to me and many thousands of potential customers and viewers. I am both an avid television viewer and I certainly buy my share of products out in the marketplace and after Immelt steered his networks into such shameless promotion of the current administration both during and after the election I swore NEVER to purchase another GE product ever again if I could help it. Now that BSG is done, I watch exactly two NBC shows - Chuck and 30 Rock. I would love to say that is 100% because of my boycott but frankly, they've canceled everything else I used to watch that was any good so I can't take full credit for that one. I will say this, I just purchased new appliances for my home including a new washer/dryer and 29 cu. ft. refrigerator and I looked at EVERY other brand except GE.

OK, how does that apply to this post? I will welcome pretty much ANY other company purchasing NBC from GE because I don't feel they've got anywhere to go but up from here. I represent more of their potential viewing audience than I think they realize - and I HATE them... NBC/Universal needs to do something drastic if they want to capture this audience share. History has already shown that they SUCK at providing shows this audience wants to watch for the 168 hours a week they are on. They don't need to aggravate that further by their blatant political associations. Just go away...

NBC is NOT "too big to fail..."

I'm a GE shareholder and I HATE, HATE the Comcast deal. Yes, GE needs cash and has a ton of debt, but NBC Universal is a great asset. Yes, NBC has fallen from glory, in my mind the second NBC killed off the Thursday night block (that dominated for 20 years) via "The Apprentice" instead of four solid sitcoms. NBC realized the mistake, but has never fully recovered from that.

ABC was down and out, but crawled back in 2004 and NBC can do the same. I wouldn't count NBC out just yet, even though people treat the peacock network like a dinosaur.

I'd rather have "Shineheart Wig Company" buy NBC than Comcast. If the sale happens it will be just another example of how Immelt has damaged GE and destroyed shareholder value.