Comcast to be “unleashed” on rivals when NBC merger conditions expire

In January 2018, the conditions imposed by the US government on Comcast's 2011 purchase of NBCUniversal will begin to expire. Smaller cable companies that compete against Comcast are worried that Comcast will raise the price for carrying "must-have" programming such as regional sports networks, NBC's local TV stations, and NBC's national programming. The merger conditions require Comcast to submit to arbitration when there are disputes over prices, terms, and conditions of programming agreements with other pay-TV companies. In a similar matter, Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) urged the Department of Justice to investigate the possibility of breaking up Comcast and NBC after the merger conditions expire.