Comcast's U.S. ad expenditures last year -- $1.7 billion -- were second only to P&G's, according to a Kantar Media study. The company made the leap to number two from the number 5 position in 2011; five years ago, way before its purchase of NBCUniversal, Comcast was the 50th largest advertiser. Its "elevated ranking is the result of its presence in two ad-intensive businesses: telecom and films," writes Bob Fernandez.