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National Action Network (NAN) more than $3.8 million in donations and as salary (reportedly $750,000 a year) for the on-screen television-hosting position on MSNBC.” And Allen also claims that the NAACP and the Urban League, in effect, were paid off by Comcast as well.

The question is why did Comcast payoff Sharpton and his organization, the National Action Network (NAN)?

The answer seems to be that, in 2009, Comcast became interested in buying NBC.

That caused concern in Washington, and the FCC which felt that this potential acquisition could seriously stifle competition. Added to that, were civil rights groups, such as the NAACP, who were pushing for more diverse representations in the media.

So, according to Allen and the NAAAOM, Comcast, which never had any intention to incorporate any sort of diversity initiatives, began making cash payouts to these groups. In exchange, they would write favorable letters to the FCC and other regulators, saying that Comcast’s buying of NBC is a great thing, and that the company would work aggressively in making TV and cable more ethnically diverse. Records even show that Al Sharpton’s NAN received $155,000 from Comcast, who, in turn, wrote letters to Washington FCC regulators, endorsing the NBC buyout.

In January 2011, the FCC approved Comcast’s buying of NBC, and it is argued that, as a sort of “thank you,” MSNBC gave Sharpton his own news show on the network.

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Allen said:
[quote_box_center]“It’s cheaper to give Al Sharpton…

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