Nbc Universal

For more than a decade, Brian Roberts, the scion running the country's largest cable television system, has envisioned transforming his company into more than just a collection of -- as Wall Street calls cable -- "dumb pipes." So Roberts' Comcast Corp. has been steadily bulking up. First it became the conduit of television, then an Internet service provider and a telephone company. Along the way it has been building regional sports networks, launching entertainment websites and snapping up such cable channels as E, Style, G-4 and the Golf Channel.

Los Angeles has a great opportunity, but it will require action. On Wednesday, NBC Universal's plan for a major expansion will go before the City Council for final approval. The plan, thanks in part to effective agitating by Los Angeles River advocates, bicycle riders and neighborhood activists, represents a fine civic bargain, but there is also an opportunity to accomplish much, much more. For those who live in Los Angeles, there is a lot at stake in this deal. NBC Universal and its corporate masters - currently Comcast, the largest cable operator in the United States - have been trying to expand Universal's footprint since 2006.

"Project Runway," held hostage by legal challenges, has a new lease on Lifetime. After months of bitter court wrangling over its fate, the hit reality TV series about aspiring fashion designers will jump this summer to the Lifetime cable channel. The show, hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, has been a ratings juggernaut on Bravo since 2004. The legal battle, pitting onetime movie mogul Harvey Weinstein against network chief Jeffrey Zucker, showcased Hollywood back-stabbing at its best.

NBC Universal's ambitious plans for a $3-billion overhaul of Universal City passed a milestone Thursday with the release of the long-awaited city report on how the project might affect neighbors and the surrounding area. Much of the study, known as a draft environmental impact report focuses on the traffic that would be generated by adding nearly 3,000 residences to the famed studio property in the San Fernando Valley. The plans also call for the construction of additional studios and offices for producing movies and television shows, as well as a hotel, shops and tourist attractions.

General Electric Co., which prides itself on its management prowess and financial controls, allegedly was fleeced by one of its top executives. Federal authorities Thursday arrested the former treasurer of GE's NBC Universal unit on charges that he stole more than $800,000 from the company and used the proceeds for lavish private jet trips, a summer house rental in the Hamptons and other personal spending.

It's been a good month for Comcast Corp.'s Steve Burke: Last week he received a new five-year contract as the cable giant's chief operating officer, and on Tuesday he was named to the board of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Comcast said Burke's new contract recognized his responsibilities as the executive who will oversee NBC Universal after the media firm merges into the cable company. In a regulatory filing, Comcast said the deal, signed Dec. 16, will keep Burke at Comcast until 2014.

Cable channel Trio's signature show is "Brilliant But Cancelled," which lambastes TV networks for pulling the plug on cutting edge television. Now the irreverent channel may be getting the hook itself. On Saturday Trio will be dropped by satellite television giant DirecTV Group Inc., which supplies nearly two-thirds of the 20 million homes where the digital channel is available.

After a white-knuckle ride as harrowing as any theme park attraction, Universal Studios employees now hope the stomach-turning ups and downs are over. General Electric Co. and its NBC network sought to convey that they would be stable parents as they completed the acquisition Wednesday of Vivendi Universal's U.S. entertainment assets, including its television and theme park businesses. The official closing of the $14-billion deal created a media conglomerate to rival Time Warner Inc.

NBC Universal won't be capturing any financial gold medals this year. General Electric Co. said Friday that it would lose more than previously indicated -- about $250 million -- on its coverage of next month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The new disclosure came as GE reported weaker fourth-quarter results Friday that were accompanied by a stronger outlook for 2011. But operating income at the Fairfield, Conn.-based industrial giant's entertainment and media unit continued to decline despite higher profits among its cable TV channels, including USA and CNBC.