History of Comcast in Timeline
Comcast is a major American multinational conglomerate operating in mass media, telecommunications, and entertainment. Ranked among the world's largest companies, it holds leading positions in the pay-TV, cable TV, and home internet service sectors within the United States. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast is recognized as a global telecommunications giant.
1920: Birth of Comcast Founder Ralph J. Roberts
In 1920, Ralph J. Roberts, the founder of Comcast, was born.
1963: Purchase of American Cable Systems
In 1963, Ralph J. Roberts and his partners purchased American Cable Systems for $500,000.
1965: American Cable Systems purchased Storecast Corporation of America
In 1965, American Cable Systems purchased Storecast Corporation of America, a product placement supermarket specialist marketing firm.
1968: American Cable Systems purchased its first franchise of Muzak
In 1968, American Cable Systems purchased its first franchise of Muzak, a brand of background music played in retail stores. Storecast was a client of Muzak.
March 5, 1969: Re-incorporation as Comcast Corporation
On March 5, 1969, the company was re-incorporated in Pennsylvania under the new name Comcast Corporation.
June 29, 1972: Comcast's Initial Public Offering (IPO)
On June 29, 1972, Comcast had its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange, with a market capitalization of U.S. $3,010,000.
1977: HBO Launched on Comcast System
In 1977, HBO was first launched on a Comcast system with 20,000 customers in western Pennsylvania with a five-night free preview getting a 15% sign up rate.
1986: Comcast Buys 26% of Group W Cable and Invests in QVC
In 1986, Comcast bought 26% of Group W Cable, doubling its subscribers to 1 million. That year, Comcast also made a founding investment of $380 million in QVC.
1988: Comcast Acquires Stake in SCI Holdings and American Cellular Network Corporation
In 1988, Comcast bought a 50% share of SCI Holdings and acquired American Cellular Network Corporation for $230 million, marking its entry into mobile phone operation.
February 1990: Brian L. Roberts Succeeds Ralph Roberts as President of Comcast
In February 1990, Brian L. Roberts succeeded his father, Ralph Roberts, as president of Comcast. Ralph Roberts established The Comcast Fund.
1994: Comcast Purchases Maclean-Hunter's American Division
In 1994, Comcast became the third-largest cable operator in the United States, with around 3.5 million subscribers, following its purchase of Maclean-Hunter's American division for $1.27 billion. Also, Comcast owned 50% stock in the cable communications company Garden State Cable.
1996: Comcast acquired professional sports company Spectacor.
In 1996, Comcast acquired professional sports company Spectacor, bolstering its news and sports divisions, including NBC Sports and Telemundo Deportes.
1996: Comcast buys controlling stake in Spectacor
In 1996, Comcast bought a controlling stake in Spectacor from the company's founder, Ed Snider.
1996: Comcast launches Internet Connection and Forms Comcast Spectacor
In 1996, Comcast offered internet connection for the first time through its part in the launch of the @Home Network. Also in 1996, Comcast formed Comcast Spectacor, which became the owner of the Philadelphia Flyers.
1997: Comcast's Cable Acquisitions
In 1997, Comcast's cable acquisitions included Jones Intercable, Inc. with 1 million customers, and a stake in Prime Communications with 430,000 subscribers.
December 31, 1997: Digital TV service available
By December 31, 1997, Comcast's digital television service was available in the Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Orange County, California, Sarasota and Union, New Jersey areas.
February 1998: Comcast Sells U.K. Division to NTL
In February 1998, Comcast sold its U.K. division to NTL for US$600 million, along with the division's $397 million in debt.
November 1999: Comcast purchased Lenfest Communications
In November 1999, Comcast purchased Lenfest Communications, consolidating control over the Philadelphia region and gaining approximately 1.3 million additional cable subscribers. This also bought Comcast the remaining 50% stock of the cable operator Garden State Communications.
1999: Comcast Sells Comcast Cellular and Launches Comcast University
In 1999, Comcast sold Comcast Cellular to SBC Communications for $400 million. Also in 1999, Comcast acquired Greater Philadelphia Cablevision, and launched Comcast University as well as Comcast Interactive Capital Group.
October 2001: Excite@Home Bankrupt
After Excite@Home went bankrupt in October 2001, Comcast took over providing internet directly to consumers in January 2002.
December 7, 2001: Reincorporation of Comcast
On December 7, 2001, following the agreement to acquire AT&T Broadband, Comcast and the new assets were reincorporated in Pennsylvania.
2001: Customer Service Rating Beginning
Since the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) surveys began in 2001, Comcast's Customer Service Rating has not improved.
January 2002: Comcast Took Over Providing Internet directly to consumers
In January 2002, Comcast took over providing internet directly to consumers after Excite@Home went bankrupt in October 2001.
November 18, 2002: Comcast Officially Acquired AT&T Broadband
On November 18, 2002, Comcast officially acquired all assets of AT&T Broadband, becoming the largest cable television company in the United States with over 22 million subscribers. This also spurred the start of Comcast Advertising Sales.
2002: Comcast pays for naming rights to University of Maryland basketball arena
In 2002, Comcast paid the University of Maryland $25 million for naming rights to the new basketball arena built on the College Park campus, initially named Comcast Center.
2003: Comcast invested in The Golf Channel
In 2003, Comcast became one of the original investors in The Golf Channel.
February 11, 2004: Comcast Announces Bid for Disney
On February 11, 2004, Comcast announced a $54 billion bid for Disney, which was later abandoned in April.
2004: Dispute with CWA
In 2004, a dispute with CWA, a labor union representing many employees at Comcast's Beaverton, Oregon offices, led to allegations of management intimidating workers.
2004: Worst Customer Satisfaction Rating
In 2004, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey found that Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company or government agency in the country.
January 3, 2005: Comcast Center Announcement
On January 3, 2005, Comcast announced it would become the anchor tenant in the new Comcast Center in downtown Philadelphia.
April 2005: Comcast and Time Warner Cable Announce Plans to Buy Adelphia Cable Assets
In April 2005, Comcast and Time Warner Cable announced plans to buy the assets of bankrupted Adelphia Cable for $17.6 billion, a deal that was finalized in 2006.
October 31, 2005: Comcast Acquires Susquehanna Communications
On October 31, 2005, Comcast officially announced that it had acquired Susquehanna Communications for $775 million cash.
December 2005: Creation of Comcast Interactive Media
In December 2005, Comcast announced the creation of Comcast Interactive Media, a new division focused on online media.
August 2006: Comcast and Time Warner Cable Dissolve Partnership
In August 2006, Comcast and Time Warner Cable dissolved their 50/50 partnership, which controlled systems in Houston, Southwest Texas, San Antonio, and Kansas City markets under the Time Warner Cable brand. Comcast obtained the Houston system after the dissolution in August 2006.
2006: Comcast acquired thePlatform
In 2006, Comcast acquired thePlatform, a digital distribution company.
2006: Finalization of Adelphia Cable Assets Acquisition by Comcast and Time Warner Cable
In 2006, Comcast and Time Warner Cable finalized the deal to buy the assets of bankrupted Adelphia Cable after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) completed a seven-month investigation without raising an objection.
January 1, 2007: Comcast Takes Control of Houston System
On January 1, 2007, Comcast officially took control of the Houston system acquired after the dissolution of a partnership with Time Warner Cable, but continued to operate it under the Time Warner Cable brand.
April 3, 2007: Comcast to Acquire Patriot Media
On April 3, 2007, Comcast announced it would acquire the cable systems owned and operated by Patriot Media for $483 million.
May 2007: Comcast Announced SmartZone
Comcast announced SmartZone in May 2007, a dashboard that allowed users to perform mobile functions online. SmartZone was launched in September 2008.
June 19, 2007: Comcast Ends Time Warner Cable Branding in Houston
On June 19, 2007, Comcast ceased operating the Houston system under the Time Warner Cable brand, completing the transition after taking control earlier in the year.
October 2007: Launch of NHL Network U.S. version
In October 2007, Comcast's NHL deal obligated them to create a U.S. version of NHL Network.
2007: Obama Presidential Runs Backing
From 2007 to 2012, Comcast was among the top backers of Barack Obama's presidential runs, with Comcast vice president David Cohen raising over $2.2 million.
2007: Worst Customer Satisfaction Rating
In 2007, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey found that Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company or government agency in the country.
May 2008: Comcast purchased Plaxo
In May 2008, Comcast purchased Plaxo for a reported $150 million to $170 million.
September 2008: Comcast Launches SmartZone
In September 2008, Comcast launched SmartZone, a dashboard that allowed users to perform mobile functions online. It included Cloudmark spam and phishing protection, Trend Micro antivirus, and Comcast Plaxo software for the address book.
2008: Comcast's Customer Satisfaction Ratings Among Lowest in Cable Industry
From 2008 to 2010, Comcast's customer satisfaction ratings were among the lowest in the cable industry.
2008: Comcast Workforce Diversity Ranking
In 2008, Black Enterprise magazine rated Comcast among the top 15 companies for workforce diversity.
2008: Comcast.net Traffic Redirection
On May 28–29, 2008, the hacker group Kryogeniks redirected traffic from Comcast.net by taking control of Comcast's domain, causing an estimated loss of $128,000 USD to Comcast.
May 19, 2009: Disney and ESPN reach agreement with Comcast
On May 19, 2009, Disney and ESPN announced an agreement to allow Comcast Corporation to carry the channels ESPNU and ESPN3.
October 1, 2009: Comcast in Talks to Buy NBC Universal
On October 1, 2009, media outlets reported that Comcast was in talks to buy NBC Universal. CNBC reported General Electric was considering spinning off NBC Universal into a separate company merging the NBC television network, cable properties like USA Network, Syfy, MSNBC and Universal Pictures, with Comcast's content assets.
November 1, 2009: Comcast Moves Closer to NBC Universal Purchase
On November 1, 2009, The New York Times reported that Comcast had moved closer to a deal to purchase NBC Universal, with a formal announcement expected the following week.
2009: Comcast on "Top Places to Work" lists
In 2009, Comcast was included on CableFAX magazine's "Top 10 Places to Work in Cable" and was awarded the silver medal among extra-large companies in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
2010: Brian L. Roberts' Compensation
In 2010, Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, was one of the highest-paid executives in the United States, with total compensation of about $31 million.
2010: "Worst Company in America" Award
In 2010, Comcast was awarded the "Worst Company in America" award by The Consumerist.
2010: Comcast Dubbed 'The Worst Company in America' by The Consumerist
In 2010, Comcast was dubbed "The Worst Company in America" by The Consumerist.
2010: "F" for corporate governance practices
In 2010, Comcast was given an "F" for its corporate governance practices by Corporate Library due to board of directors' ties to the company and the age of some directors.
2010: Comcast wins Consumerist Worst Company In America
In 2010, Comcast won the Consumerist Worst Company In America ("Golden Poo") award. Comcast responded immediately by publicly acknowledging the dubious award and citing ongoing efforts to improve its customer service.
2010: Sentencing of Hacker
In 2010, James Robert Black Jr., one of the hackers involved in redirecting traffic from Comcast.net in 2008, was sentenced to four months in prison, house arrest/electronic home monitoring, 150 hours of community service, supervised release, and restitution.
January 18, 2011: FCC Approves Comcast's Acquisition of NBC Universal
On January 18, 2011, the FCC approved Comcast's deal to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal by a vote of 4 to 1.
January 28, 2011: Comcast Completes Acquisition of NBC Universal
On January 28, 2011, Comcast completed the transaction to buy a controlling 51% stake in NBC Universal.
2011: PAC Contributions
From 2011 to 2012, Comcast's PAC raised about $3.7 million for the campaigns of various candidates for office in the United States Federal Government. Comcast also backed the National Cable and Telecommunications Association Political Action Committee, which raised $2.6 million from 2011 to 2012.
2011: Criticism from Writers Guild of America
In 2011, Comcast received criticism from Writers Guild of America for its policies regarding unions.
December 2012: Comcast Adopts New Corporate Logo
In December 2012, Comcast adopted a new corporate logo that incorporated NBC's peacock logo, symbolizing its ownership of the broadcaster.
2012: Obama Presidential Runs Backing
From 2007 to 2012, Comcast was among the top backers of Barack Obama's presidential runs, with Comcast vice president David Cohen raising over $2.2 million.
2012: PAC Contributions and Lobbying
From 2011 to 2012, Comcast's PAC raised about $3.7 million for the campaigns of various candidates for office in the United States Federal Government. Comcast also backed the National Cable and Telecommunications Association Political Action Committee, which raised $2.6 million. Comcast also spent the most money of any organization in support of the Stop Online Piracy and PROTECT IP bills, spending roughly $5 million to lobby for their passage.
February 12, 2013: Comcast Announces Acquisition of Remaining Stake in NBCUniversal
On February 12, 2013, Comcast announced it would acquire the remaining 49% of General Electric's interest in NBCUniversal for approximately $16.7 billion.
March 19, 2013: Comcast Completes Acquisition of Remaining NBCUniversal Stake
On March 19, 2013, Comcast completed the acquisition of the remaining 49% interest in NBCUniversal from General Electric.
2013: Comcast acquired NBCUniversal
In 2013, Comcast acquired NBCUniversal and its various mass media subsidiaries.
2013: Comcast's Lobbying Budget
In 2013, Comcast had the seventh largest lobbying budget in the United States, spending $18.8 million. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, with Comcast executives on its board, also spent $19.8 million in 2013 representing Comcast and other cable companies.
2013: Critics Note FCC Head's Ties to Cable Lobbying Organizations
In 2013, critics noted that Tom Wheeler, the head of the FCC, was the former head of both the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and CTIA – The Wireless Association.
February 12, 2014: Comcast Seeks to Acquire Time Warner Cable
On February 12, 2014, The Los Angeles Times reported that Comcast sought to acquire Time Warner Cable in a deal valued at $45.2 billion.
March 6, 2014: U.S. Department of Justice Investigates Comcast-Time Warner Deal
On March 6, 2014, the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division confirmed it was investigating the proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable by Comcast.
March 2014: Justice Department's Chairman Recuses Himself from Comcast Deal Investigation
In March 2014, William Baer, the chairman of the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, recused himself from the investigation of the Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal due to his prior involvement in the Comcast NBCUniversal acquisition.
April 9, 2014: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Comcast Deal
On April 9, 2014, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss the proposed Comcast acquisition of Time Warner Cable.
April 2014: "Worst Company in America" Award
In April 2014, Comcast was awarded the 2014 "Worst Company in America" award by The Consumerist.
July 2014: Comcast Center renamed Xfinity Center
Before it was renamed for Comcast's cable subsidiary, Xfinity Center was called Comcast Center from its opening in 2002 through July 2014.
November 2014: Anonymous Comcast Call Center Employee Article
In November 2014, a widely read article by an anonymous Comcast call center employee appeared on Cracked, detailing negative experiences and criticisms of the company's practices.
2014: Comcast acquired FreeWheel
In 2014, Comcast acquired FreeWheel, an ad-tech company.
2014: Comcast Dubbed 'The Worst Company in America' by The Consumerist
In 2014, Comcast was dubbed "The Worst Company in America" by The Consumerist.
2014: Failed Merger Talks Between Dreamworks, Hasbro and SoftBank
In 2014, Dreamworks animation was in merger talks with Hasbro and SoftBank, but did not reach an agreement.
2014: Critics Express Concerns over Comcast's Negotiating Power
In 2014, critics expressed concerns that Comcast's potential acquisition of Time Warner Cable would give Comcast greater negotiating power in areas like rebroadcast fees and peering agreements.
April 24, 2015: FCC General Counsel Recommends Hearing on Comcast-Time Warner Deal
On April 24, 2015, Jonathan Sallet, the general counsel of the F.C.C., indicated that he would recommend a hearing before an administrative law judge regarding the Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal, signaling a potential collapse of the deal.
July 2015: Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability
In July 2015, security researchers discovered a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Aptean's SupportSoft customer support software used by Comcast. The flaw allowed malicious code to be injected via manipulated URLs, enabling phishing attacks.
August 2015: Comcast Increases Internet Speeds for Low-Income Customers
In August 2015, Comcast announced it would increase Internet speeds for low-income customers from 5 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s and provide free wireless routers. They also announced a pilot initiative to increase Internet access for low-income senior citizens.
November 2015: Password Reset Requirement
In November 2015, Comcast required approximately 200,000 customers to reset their passwords after email and password combinations were discovered for sale online, likely obtained from other breaches, phishing, or malware.
2015: Death of Comcast Founder Ralph J. Roberts
In 2015, Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts passed away.
January 2016: Xfinity Home Security Flaws
In January 2016, researchers disclosed flaws in Comcast's Xfinity Home security system. Attackers could disrupt communications between sensors and the central hub, potentially preventing the detection of intrusions. The system also failed to alert users when communications were lost.
April 26, 2016: Comcast in Talks to Acquire DreamWorks Animation
On April 26, 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported that Comcast was in talks to acquire DreamWorks Animation for more than $3 billion.
April 28, 2016: Comcast Announces Acquisition of DreamWorks Animation
On April 28, 2016, Comcast officially announced that its NBCUniversal subsidiary would acquire DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion.
August 1, 2016: Lawsuit by Washington State Attorney General
On August 1, 2016, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against Comcast Corporation, alleging the company illegally deceived their customers. The FCC issued a $2.3 million fine to Comcast for charging customers for unordered services and equipment.
August 8, 2016: Channel Format Change
On August 8, 2016, an official Comcast employee confirmed that Comcast was changing native 1080i channels to the 720p60 format.
August 22, 2016: Comcast Completes Acquisition of DreamWorks Animation
On August 22, 2016, Comcast completed the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, integrating it into Universal Filmed Entertainment as part of Universal Pictures.
September 2016: Comcast Confirms Launch of MVNO Cellular Network
In September 2016, Comcast confirmed it would launch an MVNO cellular network with Verizon Wireless, expected to launch in mid-2017.
December 2016: 21st Century Fox announces intent to buy remaining Sky shares
On 9 December 2016, 21st Century Fox announced that it had agreed to buy the remainder of Sky, pending government approval.
February 2017: Advertising Claim Dispute
In February 2017, the National Advertising Review Board ordered Comcast to cease using a claim based on Speedtest.net data that it has "America's fastest internet" and "fastest in-home Wi-Fi" due to poor substantiation.
November 16, 2017: Comcast Attempts to Purchase 21st Century Fox
On November 16, 2017, reports surfaced that Comcast attempted to purchase 21st Century Fox, joining Disney in pursuing the same assets.
December 11, 2017: Comcast Drops Bid for 21st Century Fox
On December 11, 2017, Comcast officially dropped its bid to acquire 21st Century Fox, citing a lack of sufficient engagement.
2017: DreamWorks Animation Releases 'Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie'
In 2017, DreamWorks Animation released "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie", which was the last movie released by Dreamworks with distribution by 20th Century Fox.
February 27, 2018: Comcast Offers to Purchase Stake in Sky plc
On February 27, 2018, Comcast offered to purchase a 61% stake in Sky plc at a value of £12.50 per-share, approximately £22.1 billion.
April 25, 2018: Comcast Makes Formal Counter-Bid for Sky plc
On April 25, 2018, Comcast made its formal counter-bid for Sky plc, offering £12.50 per-share, leading Sky to withdraw its recommendation of the Fox bid.
May 7, 2018: Comcast Announces Potential Bid Against Disney's Effort to Acquire Fox
On May 7, 2018, Comcast announced a potential bid against Disney's effort to acquire Fox after it spoke to investment banks about making a $60 billion cash offer, pending on approval of the AT&T–Time Warner merger.
June 5, 2018: Culture Secretary Clears Fox and Comcast's Offers to Acquire Sky plc
On June 5, 2018, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock cleared both 21st Century Fox and Comcast's respective offers to acquire Sky plc, with Fox's offer contingent on the divestiture of Sky News.
June 15, 2018: European Commission Clears Comcast's Offer to Purchase Sky
On June 15, 2018, the European Commission gave antitrust clearance to Comcast's offer to purchase Sky, citing limited impact on competition due to their current assets in Europe. Comcast also included a 10-year commitment to the operations and funding of Sky News, similar to Disney's offer.
June 19, 2018: Disney Formally Agrees to Acquire Sky News
On June 19, 2018, Disney formally agreed to acquire Sky News as part of Fox's proposed bid, committing to a 15-year increase in annual funding from £90 million to £100 million.
June 20, 2018: Disney and Fox Amend Merger Agreement
On June 20, 2018, Disney and Fox announced that they had amended their previous merger agreement, upping Disney's offer to $71.3 billion (a 10% premium over Comcast's $65 billion offer), while also offering shareholders the option of receiving cash instead of stock.
July 11, 2018: 21st Century Fox Raises Bid for Sky plc Assets
On July 11, 2018, 21st Century Fox raised its bid to purchase Sky plc assets to $32.5 billion, and $18.57 a share. In response, Comcast increased its bid to $34 billion, and $19.5 a share.
July 16, 2018: CNBC reports Comcast unlikely to continue Fox bidding war
On July 16, 2018, CNBC reported that Comcast was unlikely to continue its bidding war to acquire Fox from Disney, signaling a shift in focus towards Sky.
July 18, 2018: Sky Board Schedules Shareholder Vote on Selling Sky Properties
On July 18, 2018, Bloomberg reported that the Sky board scheduled July 27, 2018 as the day shareholders vote on selling Sky properties.
July 27, 2018: Disney and Fox Shareholders Schedule Vote on Sale of Fox Properties
On June 28, Disney and Fox shareholders scheduled July 27, 2018 as the day to vote on Fox's properties being sold to Disney, giving Comcast enough time to make a higher counter-offer for the Fox assets.
September 22, 2018: Comcast outbids 21st Century Fox for Sky plc
On September 22, 2018, Comcast outbid 21st Century Fox by raising its bid for Sky plc to $40 billion, or $22.57 a share.
September 25, 2018: Comcast buys a 30% stake in Sky plc
On September 25, 2018, Comcast bought a 30% stake of Sky plc.
September 26, 2018: Fox sells its 39% stake in Sky plc to Comcast
On September 26, 2018, Fox, with the consent of its acquirer, sold its 39% stake in Sky plc to Comcast in exchange for $15 billion in cash.
October 2018: Comcast acquires the rest of Sky shares
In October 2018 Comcast acquired the rest of the shares of Sky with the company being delisted in November.
November 7, 2018: Comcast merger with Sky plc completed
On November 7, 2018, the merger between Comcast and Sky plc was completed when the company was delisted after becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and division of Comcast.
November 2018: Comcast acquires Sky
In November 2018, Comcast acquired the entirety of Sky for £17.28 per-share.
December 21, 2018: Lawsuit Filed by Minnesota State Attorney General
On December 21, 2018, Minnesota State Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit against Comcast over allegations of overcharging customers and adding unauthorized services to bills.
2018: Sky as Europe's largest media company
As of 2018, Sky is Europe's largest media company and pay-TV broadcaster by revenue.
2018: Comcast became the parent company of Sky Group
In 2018, Comcast became the parent company of Sky Group after acquiring the company from Fox and other shareholders.
2018: Construction of Comcast Technology Center Finished
In the fall of 2018, Comcast finished construction of the 1,121 ft (342 m) Comcast Technology Center.
2019: Comcast Theme Park Revenue Reaches $1.63 Billion
In 2019, Comcast's theme park locations earned revenue of $1.63 billion.
2019: Universal Takes Over Distribution of DreamWorks Animation Films
In 2019, Universal took over distribution of DreamWorks Animation films, starting with "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World", after DreamWorks Animation's deal with 20th Century Fox expired.
2019: Fox Broadcasting Company Spun-off into Fox Corporation
In 2019, the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, Fox Sports, and Fox News units were spun-off into a new independent company, later known as the Fox Corporation.
January 25, 2020: Lawsuit Settlement
On January 25, 2020, the lawsuit filed by Minnesota State Attorney General in 2018 was settled, with Comcast being ordered to refund 15,600 customers and provide debt relief to 16,000 others.
February 25, 2020: Comcast Acquires Xumo
On February 25, 2020, Comcast acquired Xumo, a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service, for an undisclosed amount, planning to leverage its streaming technology and distribution partnerships.
March 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Comcast's Theme Park Revenues
Beginning in March 2020, Comcast's theme park in California was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to limited capacity measures and an 81% drop in revenue for their theme park locations.
December 2020: CO2e Emissions Report
In December 2020, Comcast reported total CO2e emissions (direct + indirect) for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020 at 2,291 Kt (-249 /-9.8% y-o-y).
2020: Fortune 500 Ranking
As of 2020, Comcast was ranked 28th on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
2020: Contribution to Rule of Law Defense Fund
In 2020, Comcast contributed $200,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fund-raising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association.
January 6, 2021: Rule of Law Defense Fund Involvement
On January 6, 2021, the Rule of Law Defense Fund, to which Comcast contributed $200,000 in 2020, was shown to have provided funding to the Save America March that devolved into an attack on the U.S. Capitol.
June 2021: Supreme Court Rejects Petition for Review
In June 2021, the Supreme Court rejected a petition for review by Comcast regarding an antitrust lawsuit by Viamedia, Inc.
October 19, 2021: Comcast Announces XClass TV
On October 19, 2021, Comcast announced "XClass TV", a line of smart TVs manufactured by Hisense that would be powered by the X1 software platform used by its cable services.
November 2021: Deal Signed to Carry ACC Network
In November 2021, Comcast signed a deal to carry the ACC Network.
April 2022: Comcast and Charter form streaming platform joint venture
In April 2022, Comcast and Charter Communications announced that they would form a joint venture to form a "next-generation streaming platform", with Comcast contributing its Xfinity Flex, XClass TV, and Xumo businesses.
June 20, 2022: Comcast Acquires Levl
On June 20, 2022, Comcast acquired Levl, an American-Israeli startup focused on wireless device authentication and hacking prevention, for approximately $50 million. Comcast subsequently announced plans to establish its inaugural development center in Israel.
November 2022: Comcast and Charter Joint Venture to use Xumo Name
In November 2022, Comcast and Charter announced that the joint venture would use the Xumo name, with Xumo, Xfinity Flex, and XClass TV rebranded as Xumo Play, Xumo Stream Box, and Xumo TV respectively.
December 31, 2022: Comcast Financial Report for 2022
For the fiscal year 2022, Comcast reported earnings of US$15.4 billion. As of December 31, 2022, their net debt was $91.2 billion, exceeding total shareholders' equity of $80.9 billion.
December 2023: Xfinity Accounts Affected by CitrixBleed Vulnerability
In December 2023, Comcast disclosed that approximately 35.9 million Xfinity accounts had been affected by exploitation of a Citrix NetScaler Vulnerability, known as "CitrixBleed" (CVE-2023-4966).
2023: Comcast to sell stake in Hulu to Disney
In 2023, Comcast and Disney agreed that Comcast would sell its 33% stake to Hulu. The streaming service is valued at $27.5 billion in this deal.
2023: Comcast Ranked 51st in Forbes Global 2000
In 2023, Comcast was ranked 51st in the Forbes Global 2000 list.
2023: Sky financial woes
In 2023, operating losses doubled as Sky reported a pre-tax loss of £773 million ($1.045 billion).
February 2024: Ransomware Attack on Debt Collection Agency
In February 2024, Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS), a debt collection agency formerly used by Comcast, reported a ransomware attack that exposed information on approximately 237,000 Comcast customers.
September 2024: Donation to Anti-Abortion PAC
In September 2024, it was reported that Comcast had made a $50,000 donation to the anti-abortion PAC Florida Freedom Fund.
October 31, 2024: Comcast considers spinning off cable networks
On October 31, 2024, Mike Cavanagh announced on the company's 2024 third-quarter earnings call that Comcast would consider a spin-off of its cable networks.
2024: Comcast Partners with Starlink to Provide Satellite Connectivity
In 2024, Comcast signed a deal with Starlink to provide satellite-based connectivity to business customers in regions with limited network access.
May 6, 2025: Comcast announces company name for cable spin-off
On May 6, 2025, it was announced that the spun off cable network company of Comcast would be referred to as "Versant." Versant has announced it will rename MSNBC to MSNOW.
June 2025: Targeted by Chinese Cyber-Espionage Group
In June 2025, U.S. government agencies assessed that Comcast was among several telecommunications providers likely targeted by a Chinese state-linked cyber-espionage group referred to as "Salt Typhoon."
November 6, 2025: Comcast considers takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery assets
On November 6, 2025, it was reported that Comcast contracted Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley about a possible takeover of the studio and streaming assets of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
2025: Funding of White House East Wing Demolition
In 2025, Comcast was one of the donors who funded the White House's East Wing demolition, and planned building of a ballroom.
2026: Comcast spin-off of cable networks expected to be completed
In 2026, the spin-off of Comcast's cable networks into a separate entity called "Versant" is expected to be completed in early 2026.
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