Comcast Begins Devouring Content Creators: Invests $200M In Vox Media

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After months of staying mum about rumors that it was going to purchase or invest heavily in online content networks, Comcast finally announced yesterday that — in addition to controlling cable, Internet, broadcast & cable TV networks, movies and home video — it also wants to have a hand in the news and information consumers get online, with the confirmation of a $200 million investment in Vox Media, the network that includes The Verge, Eater, Racked, Re/code, Curbed, S/B Nation, and of course its namesake site.

In order to, at least to the general public, put some distance between the oft-reviled Comcast brand and this investment, it’s being done through Comcast’s NBCUniversal division, which describes the deal as “a collaborative partnership involving editorial content, advertising and technology.”

In a statement, Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff said the collaboration will include, “video programming, brand advertising, cross-promotion, and platform technology to grow existing properties and launch new franchises.”

Yay, more &*&^ing “brand advertising!”

Re/code’s Paul Kafka, who is admittedly “conflicted up the wazoo on this one” because that site is already part of Vox Media and has previously received investment money from Comcast, also reports that a similar investment in BuzzFeed is coming down the pike this week.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist