Comcast To Spin Off Cable TV Networks Amid Streaming Boom

Comcast has announced that it plans to spin off the majority of its declining NBCUniversal cable TV networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a new publicly traded company as part of a strategy to focus on streaming growth.

Comcast will retain key assets, including the NBC broadcast network. I Photo: Comcast Corporation

The move will include networks like USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and Golf Channel, which together generate $7 billion in annual revenue.

Comcast will retain key assets, including the NBC broadcast network, Bravo, its film and television studios, and its theme park business—all seen as critical to the success of its Peacock streaming service.

Analysts at Cowen & Co suggested that the spin-off could pave the way for a merger with another pay-TV provider, such as Charter Communications, by offloading "toxic" cable networks that might complicate regulatory approval under the incoming Trump administration.

The new company is expected to be positioned as either an acquirer or a potential target for acquisition, aligning with recent comments from cable pioneer John Malone, who advocated for Charter to merge with a larger media or telecom rival to remain competitive.