14917: BHM 2020—Comcast Xfinity TV.

Comcast Xfinity TV reruns its Black History Month promotion—Black Film and TV—with free movies, documentaries and TV shows.

14542: BHM 2019—For Comcast Xfinity, Black History Month Is An Entertaining Experience.

Comcast Xfinity celebrates Black History Month with media, music and more. No word if Byron Allen will be tuning in.

13554: BHM 2017—Comcast NBCUniversal.

Technically, this is not a BHM advertisement; rather, it’s another example of self-promotional pap tied to the EBONY Power 100, this time from Comcast NBCUniversal. Congratulating its VP of Inclusion & Multicultural Marketing, the company proclaimed, “Leaders Drive Innovation.” Okay, but the advertisement is anything but innovative.

12103: Comcast Vs. Digital Divide.

Comcast seeks to bridge the digital divide with limited-time complimentary service and an amnesty program for low-income families. Amnesty program? Sounds like Comcast is pardoning poor people. Well, the digital divide is really the poverty divide. But a little sensitivity would be nice—which is admittedly asking a lot of a cable company.

11012: BHM 2013—Comcast XFINITY.

During Black History Month, celebrate Black TV with Comcast XFINITY—and Malcolm X.

8998: Comcast Discriminates Against Tennis…?

Adweek reported that Comcast was busted by the FTC for illegal discrimination—against the Tennis Channel. Um, is anyone surprised, given all those commercials starring rich White people bragging about their cable service? Then again, showing bias for anything associated with tennis almost constitutes reverse discrimination.

FCC Says Comcast Illegally Discriminated Against the Tennis Channel

Regulators recommend the maximum fine

By Emma Bazilian

Comcast and the Federal Communications Commission will be in front of Chief Administrative Law Judge Richard Sippel today, arguing over the cable provider's treatment of the Tennis Channel.

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau said that Comcast should be fined for “discriminatory conduct” against the Tennis Channel and “willful violation” of federal rules that prevent cable companies from favoring channels they own.

The regulators told Sippel that he should force Comcast to put the Tennis Channel on a “widely viewed” tier within the next 30 days, at a price similar to other Comcast-owned sports networks, Versus, and the Golf Channel, and preferably near those other sports channels. (Comcast usually assigns Versus and the Golf Channel numbers between 7 and 20, while the Tennis Channel is relegated to the low 700s.) The FCC also said that “given the gravity of Comcast's anti-competitive conduct,” it recommends that Comcast be hit with the maximum possible fine, $375,000.

Both sides will get the chance to make a 30-minute oral argument to Sippel in Washington today. According to Broadcasting & Cable, Comcast is planning to tell the judge that the FCC’s recommendation is “improper, unsubstantiated, and illegal,” and will argue that mandating carriage would be a violation of the First Amendment.

8427: NBCU Comcast Deal Minority Report.

From Advertising Age…

Minority Content Helped Seal NBC Universal Deal for Comcast

But Will Commitment Help Marketers Looking to Spend More Advertising Dollars in the Sector?

By Edmund Lee

NEW YORK—As it turns out, minority programming became the linchpin to Comcast’s expensive and hard-fought campaign to win federal approval for its merger with NBC Universal. In what some observers saw as a cynical, yet savvy ploy, the cable giant specifically sought to appease Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, a Democrat who had expressed concerns that the merger would drown out diverse voices in an increasingly conglomerated media world.

Comcast put her at ease by agreeing to add at least four African-American-managed or -owned cable networks and four Latino-owned or -managed networks over the next eight years, as well as some English-language programming geared toward Asian Americans. Subsequently, Ms. Clyburn voted to approve the merger in a 4-1 ruling that turned Comcast into what some now see as the most powerful media company on the planet.

Eight more minority-owned or minority-managed channels would seem to be good news for general-market marketers that say they want to spend in the minority media sector but often can’t find enough places to put their money. But will that actually help marketers looking to spend more advertising dollars in the sector?

It’s a touchy subject and one that few industry executives would publicly say was even a matter of concern. Over the years, major marketers have openly stated their commitment to spend more advertising dollars in minority media, whether in TV, magazines or newspapers, but goals varied from company to company and were entirely voluntary, making it a fairly opaque process. Companies did not have to answer to any independent body or open their books to show exactly how much they had spent in minority-owned media. In addition, there were questions over what constituted minority ownership or management.

“What is minority-owned media?” one media buyer asked. “BET is owned by Viacom, and they say they’re urban content, but if a channel like BET doesn’t get what they want, they start accusing people of being biased.”

Most marketers, according to this person, are looking to reach as many consumers as possible, regardless of ethnicity, and reaching out to minority media is often done separately, typically as part of a corporate “goodwill” initiative, without any real concern over the advertising’s effectiveness. “When they do that, it doesn’t come out of the advertising budget,” the buyer said.

Comcast’s concessions came partly under pressure from various advocacy groups, which underscores that these new channels, which are yet to be named, were borne out of a political arrangement instead of a business one.

“I have to admit to being always a little bit skeptical to corporate actions that are being defined first and foremost as actions taken because of the twisting of elbows,” said Jeff Yang, VP-global media entertainment technology at consumer research firm Iconoculture and a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’m not saying that these initiatives are going to fail,” he continued. “I do think, however, we need to be vigilant that these types of investment are not seen as nominal bones thrown to allay the very real concerns on the part of minority advocates.”

Whether Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal will make it any easier for companies looking to make those “goodwill” commitments, however, is still unknown.

“It’s hard to say if the merger means anything to our clients about minority groups,” said Ethan Heftman, senior VP-director of national broadcast at Initiative. “Decisions around that are similar to every other decision we make for our clients—it’s about what business opportunity are they trying to fulfill?”

8386: Gleefully Copying The Competition.

This Comcast commercial starring Jane Lynch is a poor man’s rip-off of the DirecTV Opulence commercial.

8269: Comcast Broadcasts Its Diversity Plans.

Adweek reported Comcast has been wooing minority support for its merger with NBC Universal, promising increased targeted programming, diversity councils and other patronizing gestures. Why the hell isn’t anyone demanding the cable company pressure its advertising agencies to become more inclusive?

Comcast Looks to Af-Am Community for Merger Support
Cable company agrees to bring more diversity to its offerings

By Katy Bachman

Comcast has lined up support from three of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations for its proposed joint venture with NBC Universal. As part of a memorandum of understanding filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Comcast has agreed to add four new African-American owned-and-operated channels to its lineup; increase the distribution of two existing African-American channels; and continually improve diversity in the workplace and in communities. Comcast will also create a Joint Diversity Council.

The letter, from the heads of the NAACP, the National Urban League and National Action Network, follows a similar letter and memorandum of understanding between Comcast and five Asian American organizations.

“This agreement, along with similar agreements reach[ed] with the Hispanic and Asian leadership, will pave the way for Comcast to be a true leader, not just in the media and communications space, but in all of American industry,” said Payne Brown, vp of strategic initiatives for Comcast.

The support from ethnic groups comes as regulators work to complete review of the $30 billion deal.

Comcast has been hoping to close its deal with NBC Universal by the end of the year, but with time running out, that looks less and less certain. Both the FCC and the Department of Justice need to sign off on the deal.

8262: Comcast Promises Charlie Chan Marathons.

From Adweek…

Asian American Groups Support Comcast-NBCU

By Katy Bachman

Five Asian American organizations have come out in support of Comcast’s proposed deal to control NBC Universal after Comcast agreed to expand Asian American programming in a 16-page memorandum of understanding.

The support comes as regulators work to complete a review of the $30 billion deal, which likely won’t be approved by the end of the year.

“We believe that the approval of this joint venture will mark a significant advance for the cause of diversity in media and entertainment,” wrote the groups in a Dec. 15 letter to the Federal Communications Commission. (They include the Asian American Justice Center, Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, East West Players, and Media Action Network for Asian Americans.)

These groups—concerned that Comcast had terminated one of the few Asian American channels—have been working with Comcast since the deal with NBCU was announced.

Comcast’s commitment to expand Asian American programming includes increased distribution of an existing channel or launching a new channel, as well as the launch of Cinema Asian America—a new On Demand offering. Comcast has also agreed to invest “substantial funds” to develop new talent pipelines for Asian American-themed content.

In the area of corporate governance, the cable giant said it will “make its best efforts” to fill a future board of directors opening with an Asian American candidate.

All of Comcast’s efforts will be monitored by a new nine-member Asian American Advisory Council, four of whom will be named from the organizations that signed the memorandum of understanding between Comcast and the five Asian American Groups.

“While our dedication to diversity is long-standing, the commitments announced today position us to better compete in an increasingly diverse business environment,” said Susan Jin Davis, vp of strategic services communications and data services for Comcast Cable.

8056: Can You Pay Me Now? Good.

From The Los Angeles Times…

Telecom firms’ donations to minority groups criticized as FCC considers net neutrality rules

Key minority organizations are backing the carriers’ efforts to thwart net neutrality proposals. Critics say the millions of dollars and in-kind help the firms pour into the groups is a factor.

By Jennifer Martinez, Los Angeles Times
Reporting From Washington

Some leading minority advocacy groups long have supported AT&T Inc., Comcast Corp. and other major telecommunications firms in the industry’s efforts to win approvals for mergers, get rid of old regulations and avoid new government rules.

And the telecom firms, in turn, have poured millions of dollars of donations and in-kind services, including volunteer help from the carriers’ executive suites, into charitable groups in the communities they serve.

Consumer and public advocates used to whisper about the possibility of conflicts of interest, but now they are openly critical as the battle heats up over proposed federal regulations over net neutrality, the principle that Internet service providers should not restrict content, programs and other uses on their networks.

Key minority groups are backing the carriers’ efforts to thwart the net neutrality proposals, which would, for instance, prohibit carriers from charging more to give some residential and corporate customers priority in delivering online content.

“When you give national civil rights groups millions of private dollars, there’s no firewall strong enough to keep that money out of their policy,” said Malkia Cyril, executive director of the Center for Media Justice.

Cyril and other consumer and public advocates have been buoyed by comments from Federal Communications Commission member Mignon L. Clyburn, a prominent African American and daughter of Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.).

She said in a speech in January that she was surprised that most statements and filings by “some of the leading groups representing people of color have been silent on this make-or-break issue” of net neutrality.

“There has been almost no discussion of how important — how essential — it is for traditionally underrepresented groups to maintain the low barriers to entry that our current open Internet provides,” Clyburn said.

However, in a recent interview, she declined to say whether she thought there was a link between minority groups’ opposition to the proposals and donations they received from carriers.

Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said that any suggestion that minority groups were mouthpieces for the industry was “offensive.”

“It’s kind of like saying the minority organizations can’t think for themselves,” Wilkes said.

Internet providers also rejected any connection between their policies and their donations.

“I can tell you we do not, and have not ever, given money to minority organizations so that they will support our positions on any topic,” said Peter Thonis, a spokesman for Verizon Communications Inc. “We talk to many groups about our positions, and some agree with us and some do not.”

Read the full story here.

7912: Black Enterprise Celebrates 40 Years.

The August 2010 issue of Black Enterprise celebrates the publication’s 40th anniversary. A handful of advertisers offered salutes.


Comcast added a single sentence to its standard diversity ad.


ExxonMobil used weird stock photography to honor BE.


IBM declared BE is good for the planet.

7318: Reality Now More Unreal Than Reality TV.

What’s on TV in a MultiCultClassics Monologue.

• Ironically, Tareq and Michaele Salahi declined an invitation to appear at a congressional hearing to explain their uninvited attendance at the state dinner. The couple might soon receive a subpoena. Obviously, their desire to secure roles in a reality TV show is greater than their interest in dealing with reality.

• Speaking of reality TV, has anyone yet offered to create a series starring Tiger Woods’ girlfriends? Possible titles: 1) Tiger’s Kittens; 2) Cattyshack; 3) The Biggest Loser.

• Comcast and General Electric have created a deal that will give the cable operator control over NBC Universal, making Comcast the biggest entertainment company in the U.S. Or the biggest target for Bob Garfield to shoot at.

6943: Not Very Comcastic.

Nothing kills sincerity like contrived stock photography.

6655: Dining, Dummies And Dialing.

Snacking with a MultiCultClassics Monlogue…

• An Illinois couple traveling in Arizona was seriously injured when a Mickey D’s sign fell on their vehicle. Expect a super-sized lawsuit.

• The idiotic woman in the infamous Domino’s YouTube video is also a convicted sex offender. Plus, she was convicted of having stolen goods and damaging a vending machine in 1995. In a response broadcast on YouTube, Domino’s CEO said, “We’re re-examining all of our hiring practices to make sure that people like this don’t make it into our stores.” You think?

• DirecTV and Comcast will cough up $3.2 million for calling people who told the companies not to call them again. It’s the second time DirecTV has been hit with a fine for violating do-not-call provisions. Maybe DirecTV can do a spot for its campaign with a takeoff on “Don’t Answer The Phone.”

6107: Discarding And Disconnecting.

Dangling members in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Membership no longer has its privileges at American Express, especially for 7,000 employees slated for termination in 2009. Before long, Amex will be eligible for its own Open small business card.

• Motorola plans to lay of 3,000 employees in the next two quarters. The cuts will happen across the globe and begin immediately. Employees are encouraged to not answer their cellphones if they see the HR director’s name in their caller ID.

• Comcast reported 3Q profits jumped 38 percent. Bob Garfield’s blood pressure probably did likewise.

5761: Bad Business As Usual.

Midweek MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Delta Airlines announced increased fees for fliers, including doubling the charge for a second checked bag. The airline can also guarantee doubling the chance that they will lose the second bag.

• Ex-Sprint customers in California received a treat when a court ruled the wireless phone company was wrong to charge people early contract termination fees. The company now owes consumers about $73 million. Hopefully, the payments won’t be handled by Sprint’s inept customer service representatives.

• Comcast reported 2Q profits rose 8 percent. Guess Bob Garfield’s Comcast Must Die efforts weren’t so successful after all. Wonder if the veteran ad critic will be judging his own failed marketing endeavors.

• Dunkin’ Donuts will add healthier items to its menu. Look for broccoli-filled éclairs and deep-fried soy fritters soon.

• Comic legend Jerry Lewis was caught packing a firearm in his luggage at the Las Vegas airport. Did anyone else hear this news and think, “I thought Jerry Lewis was dead”?

• New York City high schools have officially sanctioned double-dutching as a sport. Count it as one more athletic event where Blacks will excel over all competitors.

5556: Fakers And Fighters.

Seeking the truth in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Baltimore police were on the lookout for two crooks that may be Comcast workers. The duo wore official uniforms and drove a Comcast van when breaking into someone’s home, handcuffing the victim and shooting him in the stomach. Cops aren’t yet sure if the uniforms and vehicle indicate the men were real cable company representatives. Bob Garfield might insist it all seems pretty typical for Comcast employees.

• A private investigator hired by R. Kelly in 2002 testified that the woman claiming she engaged in threesomes with the recording artist originally sought $300,000 in hush money. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer would probably think $300,000 for threesomes is a pretty good deal.

• Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee are warring over film critiques. Lee started the fight during last month’s Cannes Film Festival when he questioned the lack of Black actors in Eastwood’s two war movies, “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.” Lee said, “He did two films about Iwo Jima back to back and there was not one Black soldier in both of those films. Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version.” Eastwood fired back, “The story is ‘Flags of Our Fathers,’ the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn’t do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people’d go: ‘This guy’s lost his mind.’ I mean, it’s not accurate.” Referring to Lee, Eastwood added: “A guy like him should shut his face.” Lee responded by saying, “First of all, the man is not my father and we’re not on a plantation either. He’s a great director. He makes his films, I make my films. The thing about it though, I didn’t personally attack him. And a comment like ‘a guy like that should shut his face’—come on Clint, come on. He sounds like an angry old man right there. … If he wishes, I could assemble African-American men who fought at Iwo Jima and I’d like him to tell these guys that what they did was insignificant and they did not exist. I’m not making this up. I know history. I’m a student of history. And I know the history of Hollywood and its omission of the one million African-American men and women who contributed to World War II.” Sounds like the start of World War III.