Comcast to Sell NBC and Sky News While Keeping Broadband Business

Comcast announced it will cut loose NBC and Sky News, ending a media expansion that began in 2009 and returning the company to its origins as a broadband provider, Semafor reported. The decision follows failed attempts by Verizon and AT&T to integrate Hollywood and Madison Avenue operations. Oil drillers have similarly sold off energy marketing and gas station networks in recent years.

Sumner Redstone said “Content is king” during earlier technological shifts in the 1980s. In a market saturated with content, Semafor noted that value now lies more in the delivery pipes. Anthropic acquired dev tools company Stainless last month as part of efforts to build distribution infrastructure.

A billion people use ChatGPT directly every month. Google is integrating Gemini into its browser and powering Apple’s Siri intelligence. Semafor outlined three possible paths for AI distribution, including a neutral network operated by an existing software firm or new hardware channels.