Sky owner Comcast to spin off the UK broadcaster with NBCUniversal into separate media
The owner of Sky is spinning off the British broadcaster and its NBC Universal film and television studios into a new company.
American giant Comcast will split into two groups – one focusing on its media empire and the other on its mobile and broadband technology operations.
The new NBC Universal arm will include the Hollywood studio Universal Pictures, whose films include Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park and Gladiator, as well as its theme parks, the NBC network, Bravo and Sky.
Once the deal is complete, Comcast shareholders will own shares in both Comcast and NBC Universal.
Comcast boss Brian Roberts hailed it as ‘a very exciting day for our company’.
Comcast shares, which were down 30 per cent in the 12 months before the announcement, jumped more than 7 per cent in New York.
Spin off: Sky’s owner Comcast wants the broadcaster, whose hit shows include House Of The Dragon (pictured), to form part of a publicly listed company
The shake-up comes as Sky, whose hit shows include the Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon, closes in on a £1.6billion deal to buy ITV’s broadcasting and streaming services.
Hollywood is going through a period of upheaval at present.
Paramount Skydance expects to complete the £80billion takeover of Warner Bros, which holds the rights to the Harry Potter film franchise, this summer.
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