02:30 PM EDT, 07/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates throughout with FCC letter to Comcast ( CMCSA ))

The US Federal Communications Commission is opening a probe into Comcast's ( CMCSA ) relationships with its local broadcast TV affiliates to ensure compliance with its rules and public interest standard, according to a FCC letter seen by MT Newswires.

"I have heard numerous reports that the approach that NBC and other similarly situated networks are taking in recent negotiations is an attempt to extract onerous financial and operational concessions from local broadcast TV stations," FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in the letter to CEO Brian Roberts.

"Under this approach, networks threaten termination of long-held affiliations, which could result in blackouts and other harms to local consumers of broadcast news and content," he added.

"These practices suggest that the relationships between programming networks and their affiliates are not operating in the manner envisioned by FCC regulations," Carr said.

Reuters reported Wednesday that Comcast ( CMCSA ) confirmed it had received the inquiry. Comcast ( CMCSA ) is the parent company of NBC.

Comcast ( CMCSA ) didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by MT Newswires.

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