4 Minute Roundup: Comcast-NBC Deal; AOL's Robot Army

Mark Glaser — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:59:05 -0800

Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift (the Stuffy Head Cold Edition). In this week's edition, I look at the $30 billion mega-merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. Critics already believe the deal could lead to higher cable rates and less free content on Hulu. Plus, AOL's Tim Armstrong said he would use computer algorithms to help in the editorial discovery process at AOL. And I ask Just One Question to David Nordfors of the Innovation Journalism project at Stanford University.

Check it out:

4mr bareaudio12409.mp3

Background music is "What the World Needs" by the The Ukelele Hipster Kings via PodSafe Music Network.

Here are some links to related sites and stories mentioned in the podcast:

Comcast-NBC Deal Won't Stop Cable Price Hikes at ABCNews.com

First Take -- Comcast-NBCU Deal Isn't About Digital at PaidContent

Comcast Hasn't Made 'Best Offer' to U.S. on NBC Deal at Bloomberg

Comcast-NBC deal raises concerns about media consolidation at LA Times

Comcast, NBC aim to ease feds' concerns at Washington Post

Surviving NBC's Upheaval at DealBook

AOL's Big Plan -- Robot Traffic Whoring at Gawker

Automated AOL News -- Heralding the Future of Online News Writing? at Fast Company

New AOL Gambit Could Undermine Premium Content Goals at ClickZ

Here's a graphical view of last week's MediaShift survey results. The question was: "What will happen because of all the media company layoffs?"

Also, be sure to vote in our poll about who will benefit most (if anyone) from the Comcast-NBC Universal merger.

Mark Glaser is executive editor of MediaShift and Idea Lab. He also writes the bi-weekly OPA Intelligence Report email newsletter for the Online Publishers Association. He lives in San Francisco with his son Julian. You can follow him on Twitter @mediatwit.