• TV NewsCheck/AP, Monday, March 15, 2010 12:40 AM

Federal regulators are pledging rigorous reviews of Comcast Corp.'s proposed purchase of NBC Universal to ensure that it would not stifle competition or harm consumers. Still, many lawmakers and industry analysts expect regulators to approve the deal with conditions to prevent a combined company from abusing its market power.

Comcast, the country's largest cable company, is seeking government approval to acquire a 51% stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co. Comcast already owns some cable TV channels, including E! Entertainment and the Golf Channel. NBC Universal owns the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, along with popular cable channels such as CNBC, Bravo and Oxygen and the Universal Pictures movie studio. The Justice Department will focus its review on the antitrust implications of the deal, while the FCC will look at whether the transaction is in the public interest.

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