Report: NBCUniversal To Explore Gaming Opportunities

NBCUniversal is exploring opportunities in digital gaming and new entertainment franchises to drive growth following its planned spinoff from Comcast, according to people familiar with the matter.

Comcast’s cable and connectivity business, meanwhile, is positioned for major technological investments to capitalize on the boom in data centers and artificial intelligence.

Brian Roberts

No specific tie-ups or mergers have been discussed, and any potential deals would only occur well after the separation, the sources said. The moves are part of a wide range of strategic options both businesses are considering. 

Comcast declined to comment on possible deals.In an interview with Reuters, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said the decision to split was “the better way to move forward,” allowing each company to operate independently with dedicated management teams and strong assets.

“We just decided once you’re in go mode, you know, we want to go,” Roberts added regarding timing.The announcement has fueled speculation about future M&A activity for both entities, coming as traditional television and film businesses face ongoing declines amid cord-cutting and the rise of streaming, gaming, and social media. Shares in Charter Communications rose as much as 25% on merger speculation with Comcast’s cable unit.

Roberts explicitly denied that the spinoff was intended as a prelude to additional deals.