Comcast Corporation

Who owns Comcast?
Comcast is a publicly traded company with no parent company. Brian L. Roberts, son of founder Ralph J. Roberts, serves as Chairman and co-CEO. The Roberts family holds Class B shares with enhanced voting rights. As of January 15, 2026, there were approximately 3.59 billion Class A shares and 9.4 million Class B shares outstanding.

Is Comcast publicly traded?
Yes. Comcast trades on NASDAQ under ticker symbol CMCSA. The company is a component of the S&P 500. As of June 30, 2025, the aggregate market value of shares held by non-affiliates was approximately $130.7 billion.

What is Comcast's annual revenue?
For FY2025, Comcast reported revenue of $123.7 billion, essentially flat compared to FY2024. Net income attributable to Comcast was $20.0 billion, up 23.5% from $16.2 billion in FY2024. Free cash flow reached a record $19.2 billion.

What is Versant Media Group?
On January 2, 2026, Comcast completed the tax-free separation of Versant Media Group (Nasdaq: VSNT), spinning off its cable television networks including CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, E!, SYFY, and Oxygen, along with digital platforms including GolfNow, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, and SportsEngine. Comcast shareholders received one share of Versant for every 25 shares of Comcast.

What does Comcast own?
Comcast owns Xfinity (U.S. broadband, wireless, and video), Comcast Business, Sky (European telecommunications and media), NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, Universal Pictures, Universal Destinations and Experiences theme parks, and Bravo. Cable networks including CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, E!, SYFY, Oxygen, and Golf Channel were spun off into Versant Media Group in January 2026.

Who is the CEO of Comcast?
Brian L. Roberts and Mike Cavanagh serve as co-CEOs of Comcast Corporation. Roberts also serves as Chairman. Roberts has been CEO since 2002 and is the son of founder Ralph J. Roberts.

How many people does Comcast employ?
As of December 31, 2025, Comcast had approximately 179,000 full-time and part-time employees on a full-time equivalent basis. Approximately 30% of employees were located in over 30 countries outside the United States.

What is Peacock?
Peacock is Comcast's streaming service, launched in 2020. As of FY2025, Peacock had 44 million paid subscribers, up 22% year-over-year, with revenue of $5.4 billion. Peacock features sports content including the NFL, Premier League, and the NBA, which debuted on NBC and Peacock in 2025. Adjusted EBITDA losses improved by over $700 million in FY2025.

Ralph J. Roberts, Daniel Aaron, and Julian A. Brodsky founded Comcast in 1963 as American Cable Systems, a small cable television operator in Tupelo, Mississippi. The company was renamed Comcast Corporation in 1969 and moved its headquarters to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Brian Roberts, Ralph's son, joined the company in 1981 and became CEO in 2002. Under his leadership, Comcast transformed from a regional cable operator into a global media and technology company through a series of major acquisitions.

In 2002, Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband for $47.5 billion, making it the largest U.S. cable operator. This acquisition established Comcast's national footprint and positioned it as the dominant cable provider in major markets across the United States.

In 2011, Comcast acquired a 51% stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric for $13.75 billion, adding broadcast television (NBC), cable networks, film studios (Universal Pictures), and theme parks to its portfolio. In 2013, Comcast acquired the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal from GE for $16.7 billion, gaining full ownership.

In 2018, Comcast acquired Sky for $39 billion after a bidding war with Disney and Fox. Sky added European telecommunications and media operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, giving Comcast a significant international presence.

Comcast launched Peacock, its streaming service, in 2020. Peacock has since grown to 44 million paid subscribers as of FY2025, with revenue of $5.4 billion. The service features sports content including the NFL (Sunday Night Football), Premier League, and the NBA, which debuted on NBC and Peacock in 2025.

In 2025, Comcast opened Epic Universe, a major new theme park in Orlando, Florida. The park has driven higher per-cap spending and attendance across the Orlando destination. Also in 2025, Comcast launched the NBA across NBC and Peacock, achieving the best season start for any network in 24 years. Sunday Night Football remained primetime's number one show for the 15th consecutive year, averaging 23.5 million viewers.

On January 2, 2026, Comcast completed the tax-free separation of Versant Media Group (Nasdaq: VSNT), spinning off its cable television networks including CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, E!, SYFY, and Oxygen, along with complementary digital platforms including GolfNow, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, and SportsEngine. Comcast shareholders received one share of Versant for every 25 shares of Comcast. The spin-off created a more focused NBCUniversal centered on streaming, live sports, and premium content.

In 2025, Comcast also launched the most significant broadband go-to-market shift in its history, simplifying how it sells to and serves customers. Brian L. Roberts and Mike Cavanagh serve as co-CEOs, a leadership structure that reflects the company's complex portfolio of businesses.

Comcast does not have independently verified sustainability certifications. The company is not a Certified B Corporation. The company does not participate in the Science Based Targets initiative.

Comcast's sustainability efforts focus on environmental responsibility, digital inclusion, and corporate governance. The company has implemented programs to reduce carbon emissions in network operations, adopt renewable energy for facilities, and reduce waste across its operations.

Digital inclusion initiatives include affordable internet programs for low-income households, community connectivity solutions, and digital literacy programs. Comcast maintains comprehensive digital inclusion programs aimed at reducing the digital divide.

Data privacy and security represent critical components of Comcast's ethical framework. The company maintains cybersecurity measures and data handling practices to protect customer information across its broadband and media platforms.

Corporate governance emphasizes ethical business practices, transparent reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The company maintains board oversight and ethics training for employees. However, the dual-class share structure that gives the Roberts family disproportionate voting control has been criticized by some governance advocates.

Comcast has received recognition for telecommunications excellence, innovation, and corporate achievement:

• Telecommunications Excellence Awards: Recognition for broadband innovation, network reliability, and customer service
• Technology Leadership Recognition: Awards for digital platform development and internet technology innovation
• Workplace Excellence: Recognition for workplace culture, diversity, and employee satisfaction
• Financial Performance Recognition: Awards for revenue growth and operational efficiency
• Innovation Awards: Recognition for Xfinity platform development and technology innovation
• Media Excellence Awards: Recognition for NBCUniversal content production and Peacock streaming innovation
• Corporate Responsibility Awards: Recognition for community engagement and digital inclusion programs
• Theme Park Awards: Recognition for Universal Destinations and Experiences, including Epic Universe

Comcast operates under significant regulatory and public scrutiny as one of the largest media and telecommunications companies in the world.

Market Dominance: Comcast's position as the largest U.S. broadband provider has drawn antitrust scrutiny. The company's proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable was blocked by regulators in 2015 on antitrust grounds. The Versant Media Group spin-off in January 2026 was partly a response to concerns about the declining value of linear cable networks and the strategic need to focus on growth areas.

Dual-Class Share Structure: The Roberts family holds Class B shares with enhanced voting rights, giving them disproportionate voting control despite a relatively small economic stake. This structure has been criticized by governance advocates who argue it limits outside shareholder influence.

Cord-Cutting and Linear Television Decline: The spin-off of cable networks into Versant Media Group reflects the structural decline of linear cable television. Cord-cutting has accelerated as consumers shift to streaming services. Comcast's cable video subscribers have been declining, though broadband and wireless growth has offset this.

Peacock Profitability: Peacock continues to generate Adjusted EBITDA losses, though losses improved by over $700 million in FY2025. The service requires significant content investment, including NBA rights which began in Q4 2025. Questions remain about Peacock's path to profitability in a competitive streaming market.

Content and Editorial Bias: Comcast's media properties, particularly MSNBC (now MS NOW as part of Versant), have faced criticism from multiple political directions regarding editorial bias. The spin-off of cable networks into Versant Media Group separates these editorial operations from Comcast's core business.

Data Privacy: As the largest U.S. broadband provider, Comcast collects significant customer data. The company must comply with federal and state privacy regulations regarding data collection, use, and sharing.

Regulatory Compliance: Comcast is subject to oversight from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state public utility commissions. The company must navigate complex regulatory requirements across telecommunications, media ownership, and consumer protection.

Labor Relations: A small portion of Comcast's U.S. employees are unionized, though many Content and Experiences freelance and temporary workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Outside the United States, employees in certain countries are represented by unions or works councils.