Final answer:
NBC owns several cable properties, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, and SyFy, due to a merger with Comcast. These channels specialize in different types of programming and are part of NBC Universal's broader media portfolio. NBC network retains a larger audience compared to individual cable channels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cable properties that NBC owns are a result of a merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. This consolidation brought several high-profile cable channels under the NBC banner. Notable among these are MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, and SyFy. These channels are part of the larger media ecosystem that includes television and radio stations, major magazines, and newspapers. The merger, approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in January 2011, allowed Comcast to become the nation's largest cable and home Internet provider and NBC Universal to maintain its role as a major producer of television shows and movies.
It is important to note that cable television thrives financially through subscriber fees from cable companies and the sale of broadcasting rights to these stations. The content on these stations varies, with each cable network often specializing in different types of programming to cater to its audience. For example, viewers can turn to CNBC for financial news, USA for general entertainment, and SyFy for science fiction programming.
Despite the variety of offerings, the major networks like NBC still attract the largest audiences, even outpacing the biggest basic cable channels. This dynamic points to the lasting influence and reach of traditional network broadcasters in the face of a diverse and segmented cable landscape.