If you’ve ever watched a movie and seen that giant glowing globe with "Universal" wrapped around it, or caught the iconic peacock logo before a football game, you’ve probably wondered where the buck actually stops. Who’s the boss? Is it still a bunch of different companies?
Honestly, the answer is simpler than it used to be, but the "how" is where things get interesting.
Comcast owns NBCUniversal. Period. 100%.
They didn't always, and the journey from a collection of fragmented media assets to a single subsidiary of a cable giant is a wild ride of multi-billion dollar gambles. If you're looking for the name of the person who ultimately calls the shots, that would be Brian L. Roberts, the Chairman and CEO of Comcast.
The Corporate Family Tree: Who Owns NBC Universal Now?
Right now, NBCUniversal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. If you go to the stock market, you won't find a ticker symbol for NBC. You have to look for CMCSA on the NASDAQ.
Basically, Comcast is the "parent," and NBCUniversal is the "child." But this isn't a small child. It’s a massive conglomerate that includes everything from the NBC broadcast network and Universal Pictures to theme parks in Orlando and Japan, plus the Peacock streaming service.
But here’s what most people miss: how Brian Roberts actually keeps control.
Comcast has a dual-class share structure. Most regular investors own Class A shares. However, Brian Roberts holds the Class B supervoting shares. Even though he might only own about 1% of the total equity in terms of dollar value, those special shares give him roughly 33% of the voting power. He’s the undisputed captain of the ship.
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A Quick History of Who Had the Keys Before
It wasn't always this way. For a long time, NBC was synonymous with General Electric (GE).
GE bought RCA (the parent of NBC) back in 1986. For decades, the joke was that the same company making your lightbulbs and jet engines was also making "Seinfeld" and "The Today Show."
Then came the 2004 merger. GE teamed up with a French company called Vivendi to merge NBC with Universal Studios. This created "NBC Universal" (with a space in the name back then). GE owned 80%, and Vivendi owned 20%.
The real shift started in 2011. Comcast, looking to become more than just a "pipes" company that provides internet, decided they wanted to own the "content" too. They bought a 51% controlling stake from GE.
By 2013, Comcast decided they wanted the whole thing. They paid GE roughly $16.7 billion to buy out the remaining 49%. Since then, the space in the name disappeared, and "NBCUniversal" became a single, unified brand under the Comcast umbrella.
The 2026 Shift: What’s New with Versant?
You might have heard some noise recently about a company called Versant.
In early 2026, Comcast did something pretty bold. They decided to spin off a huge chunk of their traditional cable networks. We’re talking about channels like USA Network, CNBC, and MSNBC.
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This new, independent company is called Versant.
Wait, does that mean Comcast doesn't own those anymore? Sorta.
Comcast shareholders—the people who already own Comcast stock—were given shares in Versant. It’s a separate company now, led by Mark Lazarus. But the "core" of NBCUniversal—the NBC network, Universal Pictures, the theme parks, and Peacock—all stayed firmly with Comcast.
Why do this? Honestly, the cable TV business isn't what it used to be. By separating the "dying" cable assets from the "growing" theme parks and streaming assets, Comcast is trying to keep its stock price healthy.
What Does the NBCUniversal Portfolio Actually Look Like?
If you want to understand the scale of what Comcast owns through NBCUniversal, you have to look past the TV screen. It's a massive web.
- Universal Destinations & Experiences: This is the fancy name for the theme parks. Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort (including the new Epic Universe that opened in 2025), and parks in Osaka and Beijing.
- Universal Filmed Entertainment Group: This includes the heavy hitters like Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and the animation giants Illumination (Minions) and DreamWorks Animation (Shrek).
- NBCUniversal Media Group: This is the heart of the TV side. It includes the NBC broadcast network, NBC Sports, and Telemundo.
- Peacock: Their big bet on the future. It’s the streaming home for everything from The Office to exclusive NFL games.
Why This Ownership Matters for You
You might think, "Who cares who owns the studio as long as the movies are good?"
But ownership changes how you watch stuff. Because Comcast owns both the internet lines (Xfinity) and the content (NBC), they have a huge advantage. They can bundle Peacock for free with your internet or give you special access to Olympic coverage.
It also affects the "Streaming Wars." Since Comcast is a massive, profitable corporation with billions in revenue ($123 billion in 2024), they have the "deep pockets" needed to keep Peacock running even when it loses money, while smaller studios might have to sell their shows to Netflix just to survive.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re trying to keep track of this ever-changing media landscape, here are a few things you can actually do to stay ahead:
- Watch the Ticker: If you want to know how NBCUniversal is doing, don't look for media news—look for Comcast’s quarterly earnings reports (CMCSA). If the theme parks are booming, NBC has more money to spend on big-budget dramas.
- Check Your Bundles: If you're a Comcast/Xfinity customer, you likely have perks related to NBCUniversal content that you aren't using. Check your account for Peacock Premium inclusions.
- Follow the Spin-offs: Keep an eye on Versant. As a new independent company, it might eventually be bought by someone else (like Disney or Warner Bros. Discovery), which would change where you find shows on CNBC or MSNBC.
The media world is messy, but as of 2026, the answer to who owns NBC Universal remains a one-word answer: Comcast. They’ve spent the last decade-plus turning a TV network into a global entertainment empire, and they don't look like they’re letting go anytime soon.