His Name is Brian Roberts…

Brian Roberts has long flown under the Hollywood radar, but today’s deal put’s him right in the spotlight.  With Comcast soon to own 51% of NBC Universal, the quiet CEO who prefers to lead by example is now the central focus of the entire motion picture industry.  Since 22, Brian Roberts has been a part of Comcast.  He now sits in the driver’s seat of the most powerful cable company in the United States, and arguably the most powerful broadcast network.

Why Comcast Bought NBC Universal

The acquisition of NBC Universal completes the Comcast ecosystem.  Already the country’s largest cable company, Comcast is also one of the largest internet service providers.  From an infrastructure standpoint, Comcast is easily the most powerful distributor of media.  The acquisition of a content network is a natural progression for the business.  What was a massive concern for NBC Universal prior to the acquisition: the secular downturn in television advertising, hardly registers considering those ad dollars are shifting to the Web, Comcast’s Web.  The synergies that Comcast has with NBC Universal’s film and television networks are wildly obvious.  As cliche as it is, content is king.

Yet, In the spirit of being fair and balanced, some analysts have criticized the deal.  Collins Stewart analyst Thomas Eagan said, “We’re still very unsure about the value created from this deal.“  Is this even worth addressing?  Other critics of the deal say there is too little overlap between the businesses to draw out meaningful savings. …I’m pretty sure this move is about growth, not savings.  However, Variety did post a list of relevant questions that are right on point.

More details on the Comcast/NBC Universal Deal from The Hollywood Reporter.

So, where does the media giant go from here?  How does Comcast solidify complete control across all media channels?  Though the digestion of NBC Universal may take a few years, I would not be surprised to see Comcast make a play in the wireless market.