SBJ's Comcast/NBC Merger Speculation

It's hard not to read John Ourand's SBJ thoughts on the likely trajectory of Comcast/NBC/Golf Channel/Versus and envision PGA Tour VP's popping champagne bottles and partying like it's 2005.

Besides delivering a well-funded partner to the negotiating table and eager to compete with ESPN, the merger will be wrapping up around the time they'll be firming up deal in time to impact the contract starting in 2013.

I expect the new NBC Sports Channel to carry one or two Notre Dame football games each season. I can see it telecast early round coverage of NBC’s PGA Tour golf events (like The Players Championship) rather than Golf Channel. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see on-air talent working across all the channels as Comcast tries to set up the ESPN competitor that leagues have been seeking for the past several years.