Pending Comcast deal muzzles NBC with reporters

[January 14, 2011]  PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Due to NBC Universal's still-pending purchase by Comcast, the network has chosen not to make an executive available to talk about programming during a twice-annual meeting with the Television Critics Association.

Federal regulators haven't approved the Comcast-NBC Universal merger.

The association's president, Susan Young, says NBC viewers are curious what will be happening with their shows even with the merger up in the air.

Young says the TCA tried to convince NBC to make an executive available during the meeting Thursday. But an NBC spokeswoman, Rebecca Marks, says "in light of where we are in our transition, we didn't think it would be appropriate to have an executive session."

Instead, NBC brought forth actors and producers from shows like "The Cape," "Community" and "Harry's Law."

[Associated Press; By DAVID BAUDER]

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