Federal Communications Commission DA 12-445 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the matter of Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company And NBC Universal, Inc. For Consent to Assign Licenses and Transfer Control of Licenses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) MB Docket No. 10-56 Order Extended Comment Date: April 3, 2012 Extended Reply Comment Date: April 17, 2012 Adopted: March 22, 2012 Released: March 22, 2012 By the Chief, Media Bureau: 1. On March 13, 2012, the Media Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on a request from Comcast Corporation (Comcast) and NBCUniversal Media, LLC (NBCUniversal) (together, C- NBCU) that the Bureau provide guidance regarding the Benchmark Condition adopted by the Commission in the Comcast-NBCUniversal Order.1 C-NBCU specifically sought guidance from the Bureau regarding its access to Online Video Distributors’ (OVDs) peer programming deals in negotiations arising out of the Benchmark Condition.2 The Bureau established March 27, 2012 as the deadline for filing comments in response to the Public Notice and April 3, 2012 as the deadline for filing reply comments. 2. On March 16, 2012, CBS Corporation, News Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., Time Warner Inc., Viacom Inc., and The Walt Disney Company (collectively, Content Interests) filed a joint motion for an extension of the filing deadlines.3 Arguing that the deadlines established in the Public Notice do not provide affected businesses, particularly third parties, a meaningful opportunity to assist in developing a full record for the Bureau’s consideration of this matter, the Content Interests request that the deadline for filing comments be extended until April 12, 2012 and that the deadline for filing reply 1 Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Whether Comcast-NBCU Benchmark Condition Needs Clarification and Whether a Proposed Third Protective Order for Compliance Should be Adopted, MB Docket No. 10-56, Public Notice, DA 12-394 (rel. March 13, 2012) (Public Notice). 2 C-NBCU, Request for Clarification Regarding Disclosure of Peer Deals and Third Protective Order to Govern Negotiations Under Benchmark Condition, MB Docket No. 10-56 (February 17, 2012) (C-NBCU Letter); see also Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company, and NBC Universal, Inc. for Consent to Assign Licenses and Transfer of Control of Licenses, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 4238, 4360, App. A., § IV, A.2.b (2011) (C-NBCU Order). 3 Motion for Extension of Time, filed by CBS Corporation, News Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., Time Warner Inc., Viacom Inc., and The Walt Disney Company, MB Docket No. 10-56 (March 16, 2012) at 1. Federal Communications Commission DA 12-445 2 comments be extended until May 14, 2012. On March 19, 2012, C-NBCU filed an opposition to the Content Interests’ motion for extension of time.4 C-NBCU claims that that the motion is not justified because C-NBCU’s request for guidance from the Bureau has been in the public docket since February 17, 2012 and interested parties, including the Content Interests, already have filed initial responses to its request. Accordingly, C-NBCU requests that the Bureau deny the Content Interests’ motion. 3. In order to provide interested parties adequate time to prepare comments in response to the Public Notice and to develop a full record on this matter, the Bureau grants, in part, the Content Interests’ request for an extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines. We hereby extend the filing deadline for comments from March 27, 2012 until April 3, 2012 and the deadline for reply comments from April 3, 2012 to April 17, 2012. This action is taken pursuant to authority delegated by Section 0.283 of the Commission’s Rules.5 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION William T. Lake Chief, Media Bureau 4 Opposition to Motion for Extension of Time, filed by David P. Murray, Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, counsel for Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal Media, LLC, MB Docket No. 10-56 (March 19, 2012). 5 47 C.F.R. § 0.283.