Did MSNBC Give Al Sharpton His Show as a Bribe, for His Support of the NBC Universal-Comcast Merger?

Posted by Nicholas Stix

 

Al Sharpton's Comcast connection raises questions

By Keach Hagey

July 28, 2011

Politico

 

Two stories out last night raise questions about Al Sharpton's role in lobbying for the NBC Universal —Comcast merger, now that it looks like he's about to get his own 6 p.m. show on MSNBC.

Longtime Sharpton watcher Wayne Barrett, writing at the Daily Beast, wonders if the show may be a reward for Sharpton having been the first major black leader to endorse parent company's merger with Comcast.

 

He points out that Mignon Clyburn, the only minority member of the FCC, threw her crucial support behind the deal, citing a diversity memorandum of agreement signed by Sharpton as something that "will serve to keep the new entity honest in promoting diversity." Sharpton also reportedly met with her, and championed the attempts by her father, Rep. James Clyburn, to keep his leadership position in the House. Comcast gave $10,500 to Clyburn's political committees, and has given $140,000 to Sharpton's National Action Network since 2009, the same year the merger was proposed, Barrett reports.

The New York Times's Brian Stelter stops short of Barrett's suggestion, saying only that Sharpton's role lobbying for Comcast and his expected new role at MSNBC "highlights the complex relationships that can arise when cable news channels employ activists who take sides instead of journalists who don't."

Sharpton tells him that he decided to sign onto Comcast's lobbying effort after Comcast CEO Brian Roberts met with him and representatives from other minority groups to talk about the company's bid last year. He urged the FCC to approve the deal, and Comcast used his approval, along with that of other minority leaders, to convince government officials.

Sharpton denied a connection between his Comcast lobbying and his possible MSNBC gig, which has not yet been announced, pointing out that there were no open time slots last year on MSNBC when he was doing the lobbying.

Since the Comcast deal went through, officials for both Comcast and NBC have repeatedly maintained that Comcast does not meddle in the affairs of its new media holding.

Posted by Keach Hagey 9:22 A.M.