Like it or not, and the current pulse is ‘not’, Comcast is the new majority holder of NBC. Their first order of business was to replace one of the most well-known American icons with a ‘unifying’ symbol that goes to show their lack of imagination. In doing so they mimic what every corporation is saying: America’s past means nothing. In the relentless march towards ‘one global market’, remaining attached to one nation spells weakness.
The corporate rhetoric was sickeningly thick – they actually said “We aren't a family of two favorite sons, rather one filled with talented people and companies all tied for first”.
Another image of ‘one big happy family all tied for first’’. Who comes up with this drivel?
Top Comcast executives were introduced to employees via a video feed to locations in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London. After listening to pre-recorded and carefully worded interviews of these executives the employees were given a chance to ask questions. A chance to ask questions? The executives talked their company line while the most pressing question from the audience – are there going to be layoffs - was not discussed. You can see what employees only concern was. And I don’t blame them, corporations do not have a history of benevolence towards employees no matter what their public face says.
The welcome ‘gifts’ were laughable and stingy given the estimated value of this bloated conglomerate creeping ever so steadily towards total monopoly. Each employee received 25 Comcast shares, worth $23.31 each; a family pass to one of the Universal theme parks; and other materials, including a "Big Idea Book" in which they were to record their own. Can’t you just feel the love? I’d like to see if any of those ideas ever end up on the boss’s desk.
The business of wealth and power building just took another end run at sucking the American consumer dry.
Their new logo should be a video camera focused on a glittering and bloated dollar sign propped up by couch potatoes.
