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Comcast Holdings Corp – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/04

On:  Friday, 3/25/05, at 1:30pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/04   ·   Accession #:  1047469-5-7822   ·   File #:  1-15471

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COMCAST HOLDINGS CORPORATION 2004 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Commission file number 001-15471

COMCAST HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
2.0% Exchangeable Subordinated Debentures due 2029

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
NONE

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ý        No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendments to this Form 10-K.

[Not Applicable]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). 

Yes o    No ý

As of the end of its fiscal year, all of the Registrant's voting and non-voting common equity securities were held either directly or indirectly by its affiliate, Comcast Corporation.

As of December 31, 2004, there were 21,591,115 shares of Class A Common Stock, 916,198,519 shares of Class A Special Common Stock and 9,444,375 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

The Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions I (1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
NONE

COMCAST HOLDINGS CORPORATION
2004 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K is for the year ended December 31, 2004. This Annual Report modifies and supersedes documents filed prior to this Annual Report. The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Annual Report. In addition, information that we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede information contained in this Annual Report. In this Annual Report, "Comcast Holdings," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Comcast Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries, and "Comcast" refers to Comcast Corporation.

You should carefully review the information contained in this Annual Report and particularly consider any risk factors that we set forth in this Annual Report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC. In this Annual Report, we state our beliefs of future events and of our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify those so-called "forward-looking statements" by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of those words, and other comparable words. You should be aware that those statements are only our predictions. In evaluating those statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including the risks and uncertainties listed in our Risk Factors section beginning on page 13 and in other reports we file with the SEC. Actual events or our actual results may differ materially from any of our forward-looking statements.

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PART I

ITEM 1    BUSINESS

We are an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, the largest cable operator in the United States. We are a Pennsylvania corporation that was organized in 1969 and we have developed, managed and operated broadband cable networks since 1963. On November 18, 2002, Comcast completed the acquisition of AT&T Corp.'s ("AT&T") broadband business (the "Broadband acquisition"). In connection with the closing of the Broadband acquisition, our shareholders received shares of Comcast Class A common stock, Class A Special common stock and Class B common stock in exchange for shares of our Class A common stock, Class A Special common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, based on an exchange ratio of 1 to 1. Comcast also issued stock options to purchase shares of Comcast common stock in exchange for all of our outstanding stock options, based on an exchange ratio of 1 to 1. As a result of Comcast's acquisition of Broadband, we are now an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast. The entities acquired in the Broadband acquisition are Comcast's subsidiaries but not our subsidiaries.

We are involved in:

•

Cable—through the development, management and operation of broadband communications networks, including video, high-speed Internet and phone services, and regional sports and news networks,



•

Content—through our consolidated programming investments, including our national cable television networks E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, and International Channel Networks, and



•

Other business and programming interests—primarily Comcast-Spectacor, our group of businesses that perform live sporting events and own or manage facilities for sporting events, concerts and other special events.

We have our principal executive offices at 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-2148. Our telephone number is (215) 665-1700. Comcast also has a Web site at http://www.comcast.com. Copies of the annual, quarterly and current reports we file with the SEC, and any amendments to those reports, are available on Comcast's Web site as well as on the SEC's Web site at http:// www.sec.gov. The information posted on Comcast's Web site is not incorporated into this Annual Report. The public may read and copy any material we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Refer to Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for information about our operations by business segment.

GENERAL DEVELOPMENTS OF OUR BUSINESS

We operate our businesses in an increasingly competitive, highly regulated and technologically complex environment. Comcast is the largest video, broadband high-speed Internet and cable phone service provider in the United States. Our broadband communications networks allow us to provide customers with new and improved products and advanced services in each of our video, high-speed Internet and phone services. We also have expanded our ownership and management of content businesses on a national, regional and local level.

The following paragraphs review the more significant strategic transactions (and potential transactions) since the beginning of 2004:

On May 10, 2004, we completed the acquisition of TechTV Inc. for approximately $300 million in cash. On May 28, 2004, G4 and TechTV began operating as one network that is available to approximately 47 million cable and satellite homes nationwide as of December 31, 2004, providing video and computer game-related programming.

On July 28, 2004, we exchanged approximately 120 million shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A common stock that we held, valued at approximately $1.022 billion, with Liberty for 100% of the stock of Liberty's subsidiary, Encore ICCP, Inc. Encore's assets consisted of cash of $547 million, a 10.4% interest in E! Entertainment Television and 100% of International Channel Networks, a cultural and heritage-related national cable network that is available to over 10 million cable homes nationwide as of December 31, 2004.

During 2004, Comcast expanded its efforts to acquire and develop technology that will drive product differentiation and new applications and extend its nationwide fiber-optic network including entering into strategic agreements with Gemstar-TV Guide, Microsoft and Level 3 Communications. As a result of these efforts we will have access to technology that will enhance the user interface and functionality of our service offerings, such as our interactive programming guide, Video on Demand ("VOD") and digital video recorder ("DVR") service.

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On January 31, 2005, Comcast and Time Warner Inc., submitted a joint proposal to acquire substantially all of the cable assets of Adelphia Communications Corporation, the fifth-largest cable television company in the United States.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR BUSINESSES

Cable

Comcast is currently the largest cable operator in the United States. As of December 31, 2004, our consolidated cable operations, which are part of Comcast, served 8.5 million subscribers, passed 14.8 million homes, and provided digital cable to 3.1 million subscribers and high-speed Internet to 2.8 million subscribers.

Cable Services

We offer a variety of services over our cable networks, including video, high-speed Internet and phone. Over the past several years, we have increased the reliability and capacity of our systems, enabling us to deliver new services, such as digital cable, high-speed Internet and phone. Although our upgrade is substantially complete, we expect to make significant capital expenditures during 2005 associated with the continued growth of these new services.

Video Services

We offer a full range of video services. We tailor both our basic channel lineup and our additional channel offerings to each system according to demographics, programming preferences and local regulation. Subscribers typically pay us on a monthly basis and generally may discontinue services at any time. Monthly subscription rates and related charges vary according to the type of service selected and the type of equipment subscribers use. Our video service offerings include the following:

 Basic and expanded basic.    Our basic cable service typically consists of 10-20 channels of programming. This service generally consists of programming provided by national television networks, local broadcast television stations, locally-originated programming, including governmental and public access, and limited satellite-delivered programming. Our expanded basic cable service includes a group of satellite-delivered or non-broadcast channels, typically consisting of 50-60 channels in addition to the basic channel lineup.

 Premium channel programming.    Our premium channel programming service, which includes cable networks such as Home Box Office, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, generally offers, without commercial interruption, feature motion pictures, live and taped sporting events, concerts and other special features.

 Pay-per-view programming.    Our pay-per-view service permits our subscribers to order, for a separate fee, individual feature motion pictures and special event programs, such as professional boxing, professional wrestling and concerts on an unedited, commercial-free basis.

 Digital cable.    Subscribers to our digital cable service receive a digital cable set-top box, an interactive program guide, multiple channels of digital programming and music, and "multiplexes" of premium channels that are varied as to time of broadcast or programming content theme.

 Video On Demand (VOD).    Our VOD service allows digital cable subscribers the opportunity to choose from a library of thousands of programs, start the programs at whatever time is convenient, and pause, rewind or fast-forward the programs. A substantial portion of our VOD content is available at no additional charge.

 High-Definition Television (HDTV).    HDTV features improved, high-resolution picture quality, improved audio quality and a wide-screen, theater-like display. Our HDTV service offers a broad selection of high-definition programming of most major broadcast networks, leading cable channels, premium channels and regional sports networks.

 Digital Video Recorder (DVR).    Our DVR service lets digital subscribers select, record and store programs and play them at whatever time is convenient. DVR service also provides the ability to pause and rewind "live" television.

High-Speed Internet Services

We offer high-speed Internet access via our cable modems, providing a service that is constantly connected. This service also includes Comcast's interactive portal, Comcast.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses, online storage and a variety of value-added features and enhancements designed to take advantage of the speed of the Internet connection we provide.

Phone Services

In very limited areas, we offer traditional circuit-switched local phone service, a full array of associated calling features and third-party long-distance services. We are also beginning to offer a phone service delivered over our broadband communications networks involving voice transmissions using Internet protocol ("Digital Voice").

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Advertising

As part of our or Comcast's programming carriage agreements with non-broadcast networks, we often receive an allocation of scheduled advertising time into which we may insert commercials. We sell advertising time to local, regional and national advertisers for insertion on these channels.

We or Comcast also coordinate the advertising sales efforts of other cable operators in certain markets. Utilizing these arrangements and similar arrangements with other companies, we have formed and operate advertising interconnects, which establish a physical, direct link between multiple cable systems and provide for the insertion primarily of regional and national advertising across larger geographic areas.

Regional Sports and News Networks

Our regional sports and news networks provide programming to our cable subscribers. These regional networks include Comcast SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Cable Sports Southeast, CN8—The Comcast Network, and, launched in 2004, Comcast SportsNet Chicago. These networks sell advertising time and enter into affiliation agreements with cable and satellite television companies.

Other Revenue Sources

We also generate revenues from installation services, commissions from third-party electronic retailing and from other services, such as providing businesses with Internet connectivity and networked business applications.

Programming

We or Comcast generally acquire a license for the programming we sell to our subscribers by paying a monthly fee to the licensor on a per subscriber, per channel basis. Our programming costs are increased by:

•

growth in the number of subscribers,



•

expansion of the number of channels provided to subscribers, and



•

increases in contract rates from programming suppliers.

We attempt to secure long-term programming contracts with volume discounts and/or marketing support and incentives from programming suppliers. Our programming contracts are generally for a fixed period of time and are subject to negotiated renewal. We expect our programming costs to remain our largest single expense item for the foreseeable future. In recent years, the cable and satellite video industries have experienced a substantial increase in the cost of programming, particularly sports programming. We anticipate our programming expenses will increase in the future, primarily as a result of increased costs to purchase programming and as additional programming is provided to our subscribers. We anticipate that these increases may be mitigated, to some extent, by volume discounts.

Customer and Technical Service

We service our customers through local, regional and national call and technical centers. Generally, our call centers provide 24 hours per day, 7 days per week call answering capability, telemarketing and other services. Our technical services function performs various tasks, including cable installations, transmission and distribution plant maintenance, plant upgrades and activities related to customer service.

Technology Development

Historically, we have relied on third-party hardware and software vendors for many of the technologies needed for the operation of our businesses, the addition of new features to existing services, and the development and commercialization of new service offerings. In recent years, Comcast has begun developing strategically important software and technologies internally and integrating third-party software to our specifications. Comcast has also now arranged for long-term access rights to national fiber-based networks that we actively manage to interconnect our local and regional distribution systems and facilitate the efficient delivery of our broadband services. We expect these efforts to continue and expand in the future. These efforts require greater initial expenditures than would be required if we continued to purchase or license these products and services from third parties.

Sales and Marketing

Our sales efforts are primarily directed toward generating incremental revenues and increasing the number of subscribers we serve. We sell our products and services through direct customer contact through our call centers, door-to-door selling, direct mail advertising, cable television advertising, local media advertising, telemarketing, and retail outlets.

4

Competition

We operate our businesses in an increasingly competitive environment. Our cable communications systems compete with a number of different companies that offer a broad range of services through increasingly diverse means. In addition, we operate in a technologically complex environment and new technologies may further increase the number of competitors we face for our video, high-speed Internet and phone services, and advertising. We expect advances in communications technology to continue in the future. We are unable to predict what effects, if any, such future developments will have on our business and operations.

Video Services

We compete with a number of different sources that provide news, information and entertainment programming to consumers, including:

•

program distributors that use direct broadcast satellite, or DBS, systems that transmit satellite signals containing video programming, data and other information to receiving dishes of varying sizes located on the subscriber's premises,



•

local exchange carriers, commonly known as LECs, that are marketing DBS service, and some that are building wireline fiber-optic networks and beginning to provide service in various communities across the United States,



•

other wireline communications providers who build and operate wireline communications systems in the same communities that we serve, including those operating as franchised cable operators or under an alternative regulatory scheme known as Open Video Systems, or OVS,



•

satellite master antenna television systems, commonly known as SMATVs, that generally serve condominiums, apartment and office complexes, and residential developments,



•

local television broadcast stations that provide free over-the-air programming which can be received using an antenna and a television set,



•

digital subscription services transmitted over local television broadcast stations that can be received by a special set-top box,



•

interactive online computer services, including Internet video streaming and distribution of movies,



•

video stores and home video products,



•

movie theaters,



•

newspapers, magazines and bookstores, and



•

live concerts and sporting events.

In recent years, Congress has enacted legislation and the FCC has adopted regulatory policies intended to provide a favorable operating environment for existing competitors and for potential new competitors to our cable systems. The FCC recently adopted rules favoring new investment by LECs in fiber-optic networks capable of distributing video programming and rules allocating and auctioning spectrum for new wireless services that are expected to compete with our video service offerings. In order to compete effectively, we strive to provide, at a reasonable price to subscribers, new products and services, superior technical performance and customer service, and a greater variety of video programming.

 DBS Systems.    According to recent government and industry reports, conventional, medium- and high-power satellites currently provide video programming to over 24 million subscribers in the United States. DBS providers with high-power satellites typically offer to their subscribers more than 300 channels of programming, including programming services substantially similar to those our cable systems provide. Two companies, DIRECTV and EchoStar, provide service to substantially all of these DBS subscribers.

DBS service can be received throughout the continental United States through a small rooftop or side-mounted outside antenna. DBS systems use video compression technology to increase channel capacity and digital technology to improve the quality and quantity of the signals transmitted to their subscribers. Our digital cable service is competitive with the programming, channel capacity and quality of signals delivered to subscribers by DBS systems.

Federal legislation establishes, among other things, a compulsory copyright license that permits DBS systems to retransmit local broadcast television signals to subscribers who reside in the local television station's market. These companies are currently transmitting local broadcast signals in most markets that we currently serve. Additionally, federal law generally provides DBS systems with access to all cable-affiliated video programming services delivered by satellite. As a result, DBS providers are competitive with cable system operators like us because they offer programming that closely resembles what we offer. These DBS providers are attempting to expand their service offerings to include, among other things, high-speed Internet service and have entered marketing arrangements in which their service is promoted and sold by LECs, such as Verizon Communications, Inc., SBC Communications, Inc., BellSouth Corporation and Qwest Communications International, Inc.

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 Local Exchange Carriers (LECs).    In addition to entering into joint marketing arrangements with DBS providers, some LECs are building fiber-optic networks capable of distributing video programming. The LECs, to date, have taken various positions on the question of whether they need a local cable television franchise to provide video services, including applying for a local franchise, seeking state-level regulation only, and claiming that video services can be provided without a cable television franchise.

 Other Wireline Providers.    We operate our cable systems pursuant to a non-exclusive franchise that is issued by the community's governing body, such as a city council, a county board of supervisors or, in some cases, by a state regulatory agency.

Federal law prohibits franchising authorities from unreasonably denying requests for additional franchises, and it permits franchising authorities to operate cable systems. Companies that traditionally have not provided cable services and that have substantial financial resources (such as public utilities that own some of the poles to which our cables are attached) may also obtain cable franchises and may provide competing communications services. These and other wireline communications systems offer video and other communications services in various areas where we hold franchises. We anticipate that additional facilities-based competitors will emerge in other franchise areas that we serve.

 SMATV.    Our cable systems also compete for subscribers with SMATV systems. SMATV system operators typically are not subject to regulation like local franchised cable system operators. SMATV systems offer subscribers both improved reception of local television stations and many of the same satellite-delivered programming services offered by our cable systems. In addition, some SMATV operators are offering packages of phone, data and video services to private residential and commercial developments. SMATV system operators often enter into exclusive service agreements with building owners or homeowners' associations, although some states have enacted laws to provide cable systems access to multiple dwelling units.

 Broadcast Subscription Services.    Over the past year, local television broadcasters in selected markets have begun deployment of digital subscription services. These services typically contain a limited number of cable programming services at a price of approximately $20 per month. Recently, several leading television broadcast station ownership groups announced that they are negotiating funding for U.S. Digital Television, Inc., an entity that currently offers these digital subscription services in select markets and has announced plans to offer its service in several additional markets as a low cost alternative to cable television service. Many other broadcasters are considering similar plans.

High-Speed Internet Services

Substantially all of our cable systems offer high-speed Internet services within their service areas. These systems compete with a number of other companies, many of whom have substantial resources, including:

•

LECs,



•

Internet service providers (ISPs), such as America Online, Earthlink and Microsoft,



•

long-distance telephone companies and



•

wireless telephone companies and other providers of wireless Internet services.

The deployment of digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology allows Internet access to be provided to subscribers over analog lines at data transmission speeds substantially greater than that of conventional modems. Numerous companies have introduced DSL service, and some of these companies are seeking to provide high-speed Internet services without regard to their present service boundaries and other regulatory restrictions. In addition, some LECs have begun construction of fiber-optic networks that will allow them to provide data transmission speeds that exceed the speed that can be provided with DSL technology. The FCC has reduced the obligations of LECs to offer their broadband facilities on a wholesale basis to competitors and is considering further measures to deregulate LECs' retail broadband offerings. Congress may also consider measures to deregulate such broadband offerings.

Various wireless telephone companies are beginning to offer wireless, high-speed Internet services. In addition, in a growing number of commercial areas, such as retail malls, restaurants and airports, wireless "WiFi" Internet access capability is available. Numerous local governments are also considering or actively pursuing publicly-subsidized WiFi Internet access networks. The availability of these alternatives may adversely affect demand for our high-speed Internet services.

A number of cable operators have reached agreements to provide unaffiliated ISPs access to their cable systems in the absence of regulatory requirements. We reached "access" agreements with several national and regional third-party ISPs, although to date these ISPs have made limited use of their access rights. We cannot provide any assurance, however, that regulatory authorities will not impose "open access" or similar requirements on us as part of an industry-wide requirement. These requirements could adversely affect our results of operations.

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During 2004, a number of competitors offered substantial price discounts to subscribers willing to sign extended contracts or purchase additional bundled services. We expect competition for high-speed Internet service subscribers to remain intense, with companies competing on service availability, price, transmission speed and bundled services.

Phone Services

Our limited traditional circuit-switched local phone service and Digital Voice service compete against incumbent local exchange carriers ("ILECs"), wireless telephone service providers, competitive LECs (including established long-distance companies) and other internet protocol phone ("IP phone") service providers. The ILECs have substantial capital and other resources, longstanding customer relationships, extensive existing facilities and network rights-of-way. A few competitive LECs also have existing local networks and significant financial resources.

In addition, many telecommunications carriers are expanding their offerings to include high-speed Internet access services, and as such access services become more widely deployed, IP phone services will likely become more popular. We anticipate that our Digital Voice service will be deployed over the next two years in substantially all of our cable systems. We expect to migrate our circuit-switched phone customers to our Digital Voice service over the next several years. Our competitors are engaging in similar deployment strategies, and the proliferation of IP phone services may negatively affect demand for and pricing of our phone services.

Advertising

Our cable systems compete against a wide variety of media for sales of advertising, including local television broadcast stations, national television broadcast networks, national cable television networks, local radio broadcast stations, local and regional newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. Continuing competition from these media outlets and the continued expansion of new media outlets offering advertising opportunities may result in a dilution of the portion of advertising expenditures our cable systems currently receive.

Content

We have made investments in national cable television networks as a means of generating additional revenues and subscriber interest. As of December 31, 2004, these investments include the following (approximate subscribers in millions):

Other Businesses and Programming Interests

We own a controlling interest in Comcast-Spectacor, our group of businesses that perform live sporting events and own or manage facilities for sporting events, concerts and other special events. We also own other non-controlling interests in programming investments including iN DEMAND and TV One.

7

LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

Our video and phone services are subject to numerous requirements, prohibitions and limitations imposed by various federal and state laws and regulations, local ordinances and our franchise agreements. Our high-speed Internet service, while not currently subject to significant regulation, may be subject to such regulation in the future. Our content businesses are generally not subject to direct governmental regulation. Laws and regulations affect the prices we can charge for some services, such as basic cable service and associated customer-premises equipment; the costs we incur (for example, for attaching our wires to poles owned by utility companies); the relationships we establish with our suppliers, subscribers and competitors; and many other aspects of our businesses.

The most significant federal law affecting our cable business is the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The provisions of the Communications Act and the manner in which the FCC, state and local authorities, and the courts implement and interpret those provisions affect our ability to develop and execute business plans, our ability to raise capital and the competitive dynamics between and among different sectors of the communications and entertainment industries in which we operate. The FCC also has the authority to enforce its regulations through the imposition of substantial fines, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders and the imposition of other administrative sanctions, such as the revocation of FCC licenses needed to operate some of the transmission facilities we use in connection with our cable business.

We believe we are currently in substantial compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements imposed by, or under, the Communications Act, but we caution that the precise requirements of the law are not always clear. Moreover, many laws and regulations can be interpreted in after-the-fact enforcement proceedings or private-party litigation in a manner that is inconsistent with the judgments we have made. We also note that regulators at all levels of government frequently consider changing, and sometimes do change, existing rules or interpretations of existing rules, or prescribe new ones. Judicial decisions often alter the regulatory framework in ways that are inconsistent with regulator, business and investor expectations. In addition, our businesses can be significantly affected by the enactment of new legislation. Congress seriously considers the enactment of new legislative requirements potentially affecting our businesses virtually every year, and a significant initiative to update the Communications Act has begun this year. We always face the risk that Congress or a state will approve legislation significantly affecting our businesses. In particular, we could be materially disadvantaged if we are subject to new laws or regulations that do not equally affect our satellite, wireline and wireless competitors.

A major objective of Congress and the FCC has been to increase competition in all communications services, including those central to our business. For example, Congress has removed barriers to local telephone companies offering video services in their local service areas, and the FCC has taken additional steps that are encouraging local telephone companies to expand their investment in fiber-optic networks, which would make it easier for those companies to deliver video, high-speed Internet, and other services. The FCC has also assigned spectrum licenses for MVDDS, a new wireless service providing multichannel video programming. In addition, the FCC is continuing to adopt measures to increase the capacity for satellite-delivered services and is currently pursuing efforts intended to facilitate the use of utility power lines to provide video and high-speed Internet services. Our cable business could be affected by additional competitors that enter the video or high-speed Internet businesses as a result of these and similar efforts by Congress or the FCC. In particular, we could be materially disadvantaged if we remain subject to legal constraints that do not apply equally to these new competitors, such as if local telephone companies that provide video programming services are not subject to the local franchising requirements and other requirements that apply to us.

There are potential risks associated with various potential new laws or regulations, or proceedings that are currently pending at the FCC, in the courts, and before state regulatory agencies and local franchise authorities. We believe few of these items have the potential to materially affect our ability to conduct our cable business.

The following paragraphs describe existing and potential future legal and regulatory requirements that are the most significant to our businesses today.

Broadband Acquisition

The FCC approved Comcast's Broadband acquisition in November 2002, subject to various conditions. The most significant were a requirement for the divestiture of Comcast's interest in Time Warner Cable ("TWC") by May 2008, a requirement that the TWC interest be placed in trust pending divestiture, and safeguards that limit Comcast's involvement in the programming-related activities of TWC and the two partnerships held jointly by Comcast and TWC pending divestiture. Complying with these conditions has limited and will continue to limit Comcast's flexibility as to the timing and nature of a sale or other disposition of the TWC interest and, in the interim, may constrain our business dealings with TWC. Comcast has fully complied with these conditions and is committed to meeting its obligations under the FCC's order going forward.

Ownership Limits

The FCC is considering imposing "horizontal ownership limits" that would limit the percentage of multichannel video subscribers that any single cable provider could serve nationwide. A federal appellate court struck down the previous 30% limit, and the FCC is now considering this issue anew. As Comcast already serves approximately 29% of multichannel video subscribers, limits

8

similar to those previously imposed would restrict our ability to take advantage of future growth opportunities. The FCC is also assessing whether it should reinstate "vertical ownership limits" on the number of affiliated programming services a cable operator may carry on its cable systems (the previous limit of 40% of the first 75 channels was also invalidated by the federal appellate court). New vertical limits could affect our content-related business plans. In addition, the FCC is considering revisions to its ownership attribution rules that would affect which cable subscribers are counted under any horizontal ownership limit and which programming interests are counted for purposes of any vertical ownership limit. It is uncertain when the FCC will rule on these cable ownership issues. In addition, it is possible that the controversy relating to separate ownership rules for the broadcast industry could affect the cable ownership proceeding and the FCC's deliberations over cable ownership issues.

Pricing and Packaging

The Communications Act and the FCC's regulations and policies limit the prices that cable systems may charge for basic services and equipment. (These rules do not apply to cable systems that are determined by the FCC to be "subject to effective competition," but these determinations have thus far been made for only a small number of our cable systems.) Failure to comply with these rate rules could result in rate reductions and refunds for subscribers. From time to time, Congress considers imposing new pricing or packaging regulations on the cable industry, including proposals to require cable operators to offer programming services on an a la carte basis instead of or in addition to the current packaged offerings. We cannot now predict whether or when Congress or any regulatory agency may adopt any new constraints on the pricing or packaging of cable services. Also, various competitors are trying to persuade the FCC and the Justice Department to limit our ability to respond to increased competition through offers, promotions or other discounts that aim to retain existing subscribers or regain those we have lost. We believe our competitive pricing practices are lawful and pro-competitive. If we cannot make individualized offers to subscribers who would otherwise choose a different provider, our subscriber attrition may increase, or our overall prices may need to be reduced, or both.

High-Speed Internet Service

Ever since high-speed Internet service was introduced, some local governments and various competitors have sought to impose regulatory requirements on how we deal with third-party ISPs. Thus far, only a few local governments have imposed such requirements, and the courts have invalidated all of them. Likewise, the FCC has refused to treat our service as a common carrier "telecommunications service" but has instead classified it as an "interstate information service," which has historically meant that no regulations apply. However, the FCC's decision was vacated by a panel of a federal appellate court, which found that high-speed Internet service is, in part, a telecommunications service. That decision was stayed pending an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, which decided in December 2004 to hear the case. Thus, it is unclear how our high-speed Internet service will ultimately be classified for regulatory purposes, or whether we will be subject to requirements regarding our dealings with third-party ISPs. Any such requirements could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, even if the FCC's decision is upheld, the FCC will then renew its assessment of whether to impose any regulatory requirements on high-speed Internet service and also whether local franchising authorities should be permitted to impose fees or other requirements, such as service quality or customer service standards. One local franchise authority has already imposed some of these requirements and made them a condition of our cable franchise agreement, and other local governments may follow suit. Also, a few franchising authorities have sued us seeking payment of franchise fees on high-speed Internet service revenues. Further, a number of software and content providers and electronic retailers have urged the FCC to adopt "nondiscrimination principles" that purport to be intended to allow Internet customers access to the Internet content of their choosing (something we already provide). We cannot now predict whether these or similar regulations will be adopted and, if so, what effects, if any, they would have on our business.

Internet Regulation

Congress and federal regulators have adopted a wide range of measures affecting Internet use, including, for example, consumer privacy, copyright protection, defamation liability, taxation, obscenity and unsolicited commercial e-mail. Further, state and local governmental organizations have also adopted Internet-related regulations. These various governmental jurisdictions are also considering additional regulations in these and other areas, such as pricing, service and product quality, and intellectual property ownership. The adoption of new laws or the adaptation of existing laws to the Internet could have a material adverse effect on our high-speed Internet service.

Must-Carry/Retransmission Consent

Cable companies are currently subject to a requirement that they carry, without compensation, the programming transmitted by most commercial and non-commercial local television stations ("must-carry"). Alternatively, local television stations may insist that a cable operator negotiate for "retransmission consent," which may enable popular stations to demand significant concessions (such as the carriage of and payment for other programming networks) as a condition of our ability to transmit the TV broadcast signals that cable subscribers expect to receive. As broadcasters transition from analog to digital transmission technologies, the FCC has considered a number of proposals to expand the must-carry obligations of cable companies. In February 2005, the FCC voted to reject proposals to require cable companies: (1) to carry simultaneously both the analog and

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digital signals of each broadcaster during this transition period (cable companies must only carry the broadcaster's signal during the transition or, if the broadcaster has already returned its analog signal, the broadcaster's digital signal); and (2) to carry, after the transition, the multiple digital programming streams that can be transmitted in a broadcaster's signal (cable companies must only carry the primary digital video programming stream of the broadcaster after the broadcaster has returned its analog signal). Although the FCC has thus far ruled against such expanded must-carry requirements, we cannot now predict whether such requirements may result from additional FCC proceedings, judicial proceedings or legislation. If the FCC were to adopt such expanded must-carry requirements, we would have less freedom to allocate the usable spectrum of our cable plant to provide the services that we believe will be of greatest interest to our subscribers. This could diminish our ability to attract and retain subscribers. In addition, expanded must-carry requirements may similarly reduce the freedom of other cable operators to allocate use of their cable plant. This could adversely impact the ability of our cable networks to maintain or increase their carriage.

Program Access

The Communications Act and the FCC's "program access" rules generally prevent satellite video programmers affiliated with cable operators from favoring cable operators over competing multichannel video distributors, such as DBS, and limit the ability of such programmers to offer exclusive programming arrangements to cable operators. The FCC has extended the exclusivity restrictions through October 2007. The FCC has concluded that the program access rules generally do not apply to programming services, such as Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia), that are delivered terrestrially. The FCC has also indicated that it may reconsider how it regulates cable operators with regional sports programming interests in its cable ownership rulemaking, and there has been some Congressional interest in extending the exclusivity prohibition to terrestrially-delivered programming. Any decision by the FCC or Congress to apply new regulations to cable operators like us who have regional sports programming interests could have an adverse impact on our cable and programming businesses.

Cable Equipment Issues

Current FCC rules bar cable operators from leasing to subscribers digital set-top boxes that integrate security and other operating functions, effective July 1, 2006. The FCC is conducting a rulemaking on the ban, and we have urged elimination (or at least postponement) of the ban on the grounds that it will limit consumer choice, increase the cost of set-top box equipment, and slow the deployment of digital cable services, but there is no assurance that the FCC will accept our position. In addition, the FCC has adopted rules to implement an agreement between the cable and consumer electronics industries aimed at promoting the manufacture of "plug-and-play" TV sets that can connect directly to the cable network and receive one-way, analog and digital cable services without the need for a set-top box. Among other things, the rules: direct cable operators to implement technical standards in their networks to support these digital television sets; require operators to provide a sufficient supply of conditional access devices to subscribers who want to receive encrypted programming services on their digital television sets; and require operators to support basic home recording rights and copy protection rules for digital programming content. We believe that we are substantially in compliance with these plug-and-play requirements. These rules are being challenged at the FCC and in the courts, and we cannot at this time predict the outcome of these challenges. In addition, the FCC has initiated a rulemaking that will consider additional plug-and-play regulations, including standards for approving new digital connectors and copy protection technologies that cable operators would have to support. It is uncertain when the FCC will complete this rulemaking and how it might affect cable operators. Also, the cable and consumer electronics industries are currently negotiating an agreement that would allow for the manufacture of two-way, interactive plug-and-play equipment. Once this agreement is finalized, it will likely be subject to a separate FCC rulemaking. It is unclear how this process will unfold and how it will ultimately affect our cable business and our efforts to sell cable services at retail outlets.

Phone Service

Our limited traditional circuit-switched phone service is subject to federal, state and local regulation. In general, the Communications Act imposes interconnection requirements and universal service contribution obligations on all telecommunications service providers, including those that provide traditional circuit-switched phone service over cable facilities, and more significant regulations on ILECs, such as Verizon and SBC. These traditional common-carrier rules, however, are being re-evaluated at the FCC and in Congress. For example, the FCC has initiated several rulemakings that, in the aggregate, could significantly change the rules that apply to telephone competition, including the relationship between wireless and wireline providers, long-distance and local providers, and incumbents and new entrants. It is unclear how those proceedings (and the litigation and implementation proceedings that are already under way as a product of one such rulemaking) will affect our phone service.

We are beginning to launch our Digital Voice service on a limited commercial basis. The FCC has initiated a rulemaking to consider whether and how to regulate IP phone and other IP-enabled services. Among other things, the FCC will determine whether and how certain types of common-carrier regulations should apply to IP phone, including intercarrier compensation, universal service, 911 emergency services, and disabilities access obligations. The FCC has also initiated a separate rulemaking to consider whether to impose Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act requirements on IP phone as well as broadband Internet access services. Several states have already attempted to impose traditional common-carrier regulation on IP phone services. However, the FCC adopted an order in November 2004 declaring that one particular IP phone service is not

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subject to traditional state public utility regulation. Further, the FCC indicated that other types of IP phone services, such as those offered by cable companies, would not be subject to traditional state public utility regulation if they: require a broadband connection from the user's location; require the use of IP-compatible customer premises equipment; and include a suite of integrated capabilities and features, able to be invoked sequentially or simultaneously, that allows customers to manage personal communications dynamically. It is unclear how this ruling and other IP phone-related proceedings at the federal and state levels, and the related judicial proceedings that will ensue, might affect our planned IP phone service.

Franchise Matters

Cable operators generally operate their cable systems pursuant to non-exclusive franchises granted by local or state franchising authorities. While the terms and conditions of franchises vary materially from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, these franchises typically last for a fixed term, obligate the franchisee to pay franchise fees and meet service quality, customer service and other requirements, and are terminable if the franchisee fails to comply with material provisions. The Communications Act includes provisions governing the franchising process, including, among other things, renewal procedures designed to protect incumbent franchisees against arbitrary denials of renewal. We anticipate that our future franchise renewal prospects generally will be favorable.

Leased Access/PEG

The Communications Act permits franchising authorities to require cable operators to set aside the use of channels for public, educational and governmental access programming. The Communications Act also requires a cable system with 36 or more activated channels to make available a portion of its channel capacity for commercial leased access by third parties to provide programming that may compete with services offered directly by the cable operator. To date, we have generally not been required to devote significant channel capacity to leased access.

State and Local Taxes

Some states and localities are considering imposing new taxes, including sales taxes, on the services we offer. We cannot predict at this time whether such taxes will be enacted or what impact they might have on our business.

Other Regulatory Issues

There are a number of other regulatory matters under review by Congress, the FCC, and other federal agencies that could affect our cable business.

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Tier Buy Through: The Communications Act generally requires cable operators to allow subscribers to purchase premium or pay-per-view services without the necessity of subscribing to any tier of service, other than the basic service tier. The applicability of this rule in certain situations remains unclear, and adverse decisions by the FCC on this issue could affect our pricing and packaging of services.



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Content Regulation: The Communications Act prohibits the transmission of obscene programming over cable systems. Additionally, some parties have proposed that new laws or rules regulating indecent and violent programming be imposed on cable operators. It is uncertain whether and when any such laws will be enacted or regulations will be adopted and, if enacted or adopted, what impact such laws or regulations would have on our businesses.



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Broadcast Flag: The FCC has adopted rules that require cable operators to implement the "broadcast flag," a code that may be embedded in digital broadcast programming that directs digital TVs and other consumer electronics equipment to block the redistribution of such content over the Internet. It is unclear how these rules might affect the future design of cable-related equipment and home-networking technologies. Several petitions have been filed at the FCC requesting revisions to the broadcast flag rules. The rules are also subject to a challenge in federal court. We cannot now predict how or when the FCC will rule on these petitions or how the federal court will decide the case. The FCC has also initiated a rulemaking to consider, among other things, whether cable operators should be permitted to encrypt digital basic services. It is uncertain when this rulemaking will be completed and how it will affect cable operators.



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MDU Access: The FCC has adopted rules intended to make it easier for multichannel video service providers to compete with established cable operators in serving multiple dwelling units ("MDU"s), such as apartment buildings and condominium complexes.



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Pole Attachments: The Communications Act requires that utilities (other than those owned by municipalities or cooperatives) provide cable systems with nondiscriminatory access to any pole, or right-of-way, controlled by the utility. The rates that utilities may charge for such access are regulated by the FCC or, alternatively, by states that certify to the FCC that they regulate such rates (several states in which we have cable systems have so certified). There is always the possibility that the FCC or a state could alter the pole attachment rate paid by cable operators, and such adverse decisions could potentially increase our pole attachment costs. Additionally, higher pole attachment rates will apply to pole attachments that are subject

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to the FCC's telecommunications services pole rates. The applicability of and method for calculating those rates for cable systems over which various phone services are transmitted remain unclear.

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EAS and Closed Captioning: The FCC has initiated a rulemaking to consider changes to the Emergency Alert System ("EAS"). The proposed rules changes, if adopted, would impose additional requirements and costs on cable operators, including, among other things, installation of new EAS equipment in cable headends and delivery of EAS warnings via digital cable services. It is uncertain when and if the FCC will act on these proposals. The FCC has also invited comment on a petition for a rulemaking with respect to closed captioning requirements for cable operators, broadcasters, programmers, and others. Advocates for the hearing impaired have urged the FCC to toughen its rules on closed captioning compliance and enforcement. If adopted, such requirements would impose further regulatory burdens on cable operators. The FCC has not indicated whether it will proceed with the rulemaking.



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Privacy Regulation: The Communications Act generally restricts the nonconsensual collection and disclosure of subscribers' personal information by cable operators. There are possible interpretations of the Communications Act that could severely limit the ability of service providers to collect and use personal information for commercial purposes. Further constraints could be imposed if and to the extent that state or local authorities establish their own privacy standards. In addition, the FCC, the Federal Trade Commission and many states have adopted rules that limit the telemarketing practices of cable operators and other commercial entities.



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Copyright Regulation: In exchange for filing certain reports and contributing a percentage of their revenue to a U.S. federal copyright royalty pool, cable operators can obtain blanket permission to retransmit copyrighted material contained in broadcast signals. The U.S. Copyright Office has recommended that Congress revise this compulsory licensing scheme, although Congress has thus far declined to do so. The elimination or substantial modification of the cable compulsory license could adversely affect our ability to obtain certain programming and substantially increase our programming costs. Further, the Copyright Office has not yet made any determinations as to how the compulsory license will apply to digital broadcast signals and services. In addition, we pay standard industry licensing fees to use music in the programs we provide to cable subscribers, including local advertising, local origination programming and pay-per-view events. These licensing fees have been the source of litigation between the cable industry and music performance rights organizations in the past, and we cannot predict with certainty whether license fee disputes may arise in the future.



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Other Areas: The FCC actively regulates other aspects of our cable business, including, among other things: (1) the mandatory blackout of syndicated, network and sports programming; (2) customer service standards; (3) advertising in children's programming; (4) political advertising; (5) origination cablecasting (i.e., programming locally originated by and under the control of the cable operator); (6) sponsorship identification; (7) equal employment opportunity; (8) lottery programming; (9) program carriage; (10) recordkeeping and public file access requirements; and (11) technical standards relating to operation of the cable network. We are not aware that the FCC is considering any significant revisions to these rules at this time, but we are unable to predict how these regulations might be changed in the future and how any such changes might affect our cable business.

In all these areas and a variety of others, we face the potential of increased regulation. Given the intensely competitive nature of every aspect of our business, we believe that increased regulation is not warranted. We cannot provide any assurance, however, that regulation of our businesses will not increase.

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RISK FACTORS

All of the services offered by our cable systems face a wide range of competition that could adversely affect our future results of operations.

Our cable systems compete with a number of different sources that provide news, information and entertainment programming to consumers. We compete directly with other program distributors, including satellite companies, telephone companies, companies that build competing cable systems in the same communities we serve, and companies that offer programming and other communications services to our subscribers and potential subscribers. Some local telephone companies provide, or have announced plans to provide, video services within and outside their telephone service areas. Additionally, we are subject to competition from telecommunications providers and ISPs in connection with offerings of new and advanced services, including telecommunications and Internet services. This competition may materially adversely affect our business and operations in the future.

Programming costs are increasing, which could adversely affect our future results of operations.

Programming costs are expected to continue to be our largest single expense item in the foreseeable future. In recent years, the cable and satellite video industries have experienced a rapid increase in the cost of programming. If we are unable to raise our subscribers' rates or offset such programming cost increases through the sale of additional services, this could have an adverse impact on our operating results. In addition, as we upgrade the channel capacity of our systems and add programming to our basic, expanded basic and digital programming services, we may face increased programming costs that, in conjunction with the additional pricing constraints, may reduce operating margins. However, we do expect additional volume discounts associated with our future growth in subscribers receiving such programming channels.

We also expect to be subject to increasing demands by broadcasters in exchange for their required consent for the retransmission of broadcast programming to our subscribers. We cannot predict the impact of these demands or the effect on our business and operations should we fail to obtain the required consents.

We are subject to regulation by federal, state and local governments, which may impose costs and restrictions.

Federal, state and local governments extensively regulate the cable industry and the circuit-switched phone services industry and may begin regulating the Internet services industry. We expect that legislative enactments, court actions and regulatory proceedings will continue to clarify and in some cases change the rights and obligations of cable companies and other entities under the Communications Act and other laws, possibly in ways that we have not foreseen. The results of these legislative, judicial and administrative actions may materially affect our business operations. Local authorities grant us franchises that permit us to operate our cable systems. We have to renew or renegotiate these franchises from time to time. Local franchising authorities often demand concessions or other commitments as a condition to renewal or transfer, and such concessions or other commitments could be costly to us in the future.

We may face increased competition because of technological advances and new regulatory requirements, which could adversely affect our future results of operations.

Numerous companies, including telephone companies, have introduced DSL technology, which provides Internet access to subscribers at data transmission speeds substantially greater than that of conventional analog modems. We expect other advances in communications technology, as well as changes in the marketplace, to occur in the future. Other new technologies and services may develop and may compete with services that cable systems offer, including video services. The success of these ongoing and future developments could have an adverse effect on our business operations. Moreover, in recent years, Congress has enacted legislation and the FCC has adopted regulatory policies intended to provide a favorable operating environment for existing competitors and for potential new competitors to our cable systems.

We face risks arising from the outcome of various litigation matters.

We are involved in various litigation matters, including those arising in the ordinary course of business and those described under the caption "Legal Proceedings" in Item 3 to this Annual Report. While we do not believe that any of these litigation matters alone or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to our consolidated results of operations for any one period. Further, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial position.

Comcast's Chairman and CEO has considerable influence over our operations.

Brian L. Roberts has significant control over our operations through his beneficial ownership of all of the outstanding shares of Comcast's Class B common stock, which have a nondilutable 33¹/3% of the combined voting power of Comcast's common stock and separate approval rights over certain material transactions involving Comcast.

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ITEM 2    PROPERTIES

Cable

A central receiving apparatus, distribution cables, servers, customer premises equipment, customer service call centers and local business offices are the principal physical assets of a cable system. We own or lease the receiving and distribution equipment of each system and own or lease parcels of real property for the receiving sites, customer service call centers and local business offices.

Content

Television studios and business offices are the principal physical assets of our content operations. We own or lease the television studios and business offices of our content operations.

Other

Two large, multi-purpose arenas that we own are the principal physical assets of our other operations.

We believe that substantially all of our physical assets are in good operating condition.

ITEM 3    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

At Home

Litigation has been filed against us as a result of our alleged conduct with respect to our investment in and distribution relationship with At Home Corporation. At Home was a provider of high-speed Internet services that filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2001. Filed actions are: (i) class action lawsuits against us, Brian L. Roberts (our President and Chief Executive Officer and a director), AT&T (the former controlling shareholder of At Home and also a former distributor of the At Home service) and others in the Superior Court of San Mateo County, California, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with transactions agreed to in March 2000 among At Home, AT&T, Cox Communications, Inc. (Cox is also an investor in At Home and a former distributor of the At Home service) and us; (ii) class action lawsuits against Comcast, AT&T and others in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging securities law violations and common law fraud in connection with disclosures made by At Home in 2000 and 2001; and (iii) a lawsuit brought in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in the name of At Home by certain At Home bondholders against us, Brian L. Roberts, Cox and others, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty relating to the March 2000 transactions and seeking recovery of alleged short-swing profits of at least $600 million, pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the 1934 Act"), purported to have arisen in connection with certain transactions relating to At Home stock, effected pursuant to the March 2000 agreements.

The actions in San Mateo County, California (item (i) above), have been stayed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California, the court in which At Home filed for bankruptcy, as violating the automatic bankruptcy stay. The decision to stay the actions was affirmed by the District Court, and an appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is pending. In the Southern District of New York actions (item (ii) above), the court has dismissed the common law fraud claims against all defendants, leaving only the securities law claims. In a subsequent decision, the court limited the remaining claims against us and Mr. Roberts to disclosures that are alleged to have been made by At Home prior to August 28, 2000. The court certified a class for all purchasers of At Home common stock between March 28, 2000, and September 28, 2001. The Delaware case (item (iii) above) was transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The court dismissed the Section 16(b) claims against us for failure to state a claim and the breach of fiduciary duty claim for lack of federal jurisdiction. The plaintiffs have appealed the decision dismissing the Section 16(b) claims.

We deny any wrongdoing in connection with the claims that have been made against us, our subsidiaries and Brian L. Roberts, and are defending all of these claims vigorously. The final disposition of these claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position but could possibly be material to our consolidated results of operations of any one period. Further, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial position.

Acacia

In June 2004, Acacia Media Technologies Corporation ("Acacia") filed a lawsuit against Comcast and others in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges infringement of certain United States patents that allegedly relate to systems and methods for transmitting and/or receiving digital audio and video content. The complaint seeks injunctive relief and damages in an unspecified amount. In the event that a Court ultimately determines that we infringe on any of the patents, we may be subject to substantial damages, which may include treble damages and/or an injunction that could require us to materially modify certain products and services that we currently offer to subscribers. We believe that the claims are without merit and intend to defend the action vigorously.

The final disposition of this claim is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position but could possibly be material to our consolidated results of operations of any one period. Further, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial position.

Other

We are subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. The amount of ultimate liability with respect to such actions is not expected to materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

ITEM 4    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 Information for this Item is omitted pursuant to SEC General Instruction I to Form 10-K.

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PART II

ITEM 5 MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Common Stock

Absence of Trading Market

Through the closing of Comcast's acquisition of AT&T Corp.'s broadband business ("Broadband") on November 18, 2002, our Class A common stock was included on NASDAQ under the symbol CMCSA and our Class A Special common stock was included on NASDAQ under the symbol CMCSK. There was no established public trading market for our Class B common stock. Subsequent to the closing of the Broadband acquisition, our common stock is not publicly traded. Therefore, there is no established public trading market for our common stock, and none is expected to develop in the foreseeable future.

Holders

All of our shares of common stock are owned directly or indirectly by Comcast.

Dividends

None.

ITEM 6 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Information for this Item is omitted pursuant to SEC General Instruction I to Form 10-K.

ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Information for this item is omitted pursuant to SEC General Instruction I to Form 10-K, except as noted below.

Overview

We are an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast. We are principally involved in the management and operation of broadband communications networks (our cable segment) and in the management of programming content that is distributed over national cable television networks (our content segment). In 2004, we received nearly 88% of our revenue from our cable segment, primarily through monthly subscriptions to our video, high-speed Internet and phone services, as well as from advertising. Subscribers typically pay us monthly, based on rates and related charges that vary according to their chosen level of service and the type of equipment they use. Revenue from our content segment is derived from the sale of advertising time and affiliation agreements with cable and satellite television companies. We have several competitors in each aspect of our businesses, including satellite providers, DSL providers, telephone companies and broadcast networks.

Highlights for the year 2004 include the following:

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Revenue growth of 10.2% in our cable segment compared to the year 2003, driven by continued subscriber growth in our digital cable and high-speed Internet services and rate increases in our video services. Our subscriber growth is attributable to new and improved products and advanced services in our digital cable and high-speed Internet services. These include video on demand ("VOD" or "On Demand"), high-definition television ("HDTV") programming and digital video recorders ("DVR"s) in our video services and a fast and reliable network, enhanced Internet portal, video mail and additional content in our high-speed Internet services; and



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Operating income before depreciation and amortization growth of 8.8% in our cable segment compared to the year 2003, resulting from our revenue growth, efficiencies achieved and volume-related savings based on our size, offset in part by increased costs in 2004 compared to 2003 associated with management agreements between Comcast and our cable subsidiaries.

The following discussion provides the details of these highlights and insights into our business developments and our results of operations.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

We operate our businesses in an increasingly competitive, highly regulated and technologically complex environment. Comcast is the largest video, broadband high-speed Internet and cable phone service provider in the United States. We have substantially completed the upgrade of our broadband communications networks, allowing us to provide customers with new and improved products and advanced services in our video, high-speed Internet and phone services. We also have expanded the ownership and management of our content businesses on national, regional and local levels.

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On May 10, 2004, we completed the acquisition of TechTV Inc. ("TechTV") for approximately $300 million in cash. On May 28, 2004, G4 and TechTV began operating as one network that is available to approximately 47 million cable and satellite homes nationwide as of December 31, 2004, and provides video and computer game-related programming.

On July 28, 2004, we exchanged approximately 120 million shares of Liberty Media Corporation ("Liberty") Series A common stock that we held with Liberty for cash of $547 million, an additional 10.4% interest in E! Entertainment Television ("E! Entertainment") and 100% of International Channel Networks, a cultural and heritage-related national cable network that is available to approximately 10 million cable homes nationwide as of December 31, 2004.

On September 17, 2003, we completed the sale to Liberty of our approximate 57% interest in QVC, Inc. for approximately $7.7 billion. We received from Liberty $4.0 billion of three-year senior unsecured floating rate notes, approximately 218 million shares of Liberty Series A common stock valued at $2.339 billion, and cash of $1.35 billion. QVC is presented as a discontinued operation in our consolidated financial statements.

Refer to General Developments of Our Business in Part I and Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for a discussion of our acquisitions and other significant events.

Significant and Subjective Estimates

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities. We base our judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making estimates about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for a discussion of our accounting policies with respect to these and other items.

RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Consolidated Operating Results

Revenues

Consolidated revenues for the years 2004 and 2003 increased $867 million and $801 million, respectively, from the previous year. Of these increases, $697 million and $696 million, respectively, relate to our cable segment and $159 million and $107 million, respectively, relate to our content segment, which are both discussed separately below. The remaining changes primarily relate to our other business activities, primarily Comcast-Spectacor.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

Consolidated operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for the years 2004 and 2003 increased $603 million and $541 million, respectively, from the previous year. Of these increases, $442 million and $416 million, respectively, relate to our cable segment and $108 million and $63 million, respectively, relate to our content segment, both of which are discussed separately below. The remaining increases relate to our other business activities, primarily Comcast-Spectacor and corporate activities, which include increased costs in 2004 compared to 2003 associated with management agreements between Comcast and our cable subsidiaries.

Depreciation

The changes in depreciation expense for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily attributable to our cable segment. The slight increase in our cable segment for the year 2004 compared to the previous year is principally due to the higher level of depreciation associated with capital expenditures related to our cable systems upgrade. The decrease in our cable segment for the year 2003 compared to the previous year is principally due to the effects of reduced losses from the disposals of fixed assets.

Amortization

The increase in amortization expense for the year 2004 is primarily attributable to our content segment, principally relating to amortization associated with intangibles acquired in the TechTV and Liberty exchange transactions. The increase in amortization expense for the year 2003 is attributable to both our cable and content segments, principally due to the effects of our intangible asset additions.

Segment Operating Results

Operating income before depreciation and amortization is the primary basis we use to measure the operational strength and performance of our segments. Operating income before depreciation and amortization is defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, if any, related to fixed and intangible assets, and gains or losses from the

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sale of assets, if any. As such, it eliminates the significant level of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital intensive nature of our businesses and from intangible assets recognized in business combinations, and it is unaffected by our capital structure or investment activities. Our management and Board of Directors use this measure in evaluating our consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of all of our operating segments. This metric is used to allocate resources and capital to our operating segments and is a significant component of our annual incentive compensation programs. We believe that this measure is also useful to investors as it is one of the bases for comparing our operating performance with other companies in our industries, although our measure may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Because we use operating income before depreciation and amortization as the measure of our segment profit or loss, we reconcile it to operating income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), in the business segment footnote to our consolidated financial statements. This measure should not be considered a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), net cash provided by operating activities or other measures of performance or liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP.

All percentages are calculated based on actual amounts. Minor differences may exist due to rounding.

Cable Segment

The following table presents our cable segment operating results (dollars in millions).

 Revenues.    Video revenue consists of our basic, expanded basic, premium, pay-per-view and digital cable services, as well as equipment rentals. The increases in video revenue for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily due to the effects of growth in our digital video service and rate increases. During 2004 and 2003, we added approximately 428,000 and 433,000 digital subscribers, respectively. We expect continued growth in our video services revenue.

The increases in high-speed Internet revenue for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily due to the addition of approximately 597,000 and 700,000 high-speed Internet subscribers, respectively. The growth in high-speed Internet subscribers reflects increased consumer demand for the faster and more reliable Internet service provided over our cable networks. We expect continued growth in our high-speed Internet revenue.

The increases in advertising sales revenue for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily due to the effects of growth in regional/national advertising as a result of the continuing success of our regional interconnects and the effects of political advertising in 2004. We expect continued growth in our advertising sales revenue.

Other revenue includes phone revenues, installation revenues, revenue from our regional sports and news networks, guide revenues, commissions from electronic retailing and revenue from other service offerings.

The increases in franchise fees collected from our cable subscribers for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily attributable to the increases in our revenues upon which the fees apply.

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 Operating, Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    The increases in operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily attributable to the effects of increases in labor costs and other volume-related expenses and, to a lesser extent, to the effects of high-speed Internet subscriber growth.

Programming expenses represent our single largest operating expense and represent fees paid to license programming from cable networks that we distribute, package and sell to our video subscribers. Programming expenses are impacted by changes in programming rates, the number of subscribers and the programming packages offered to subscribers. We anticipate our programming expenses will increase in the future primarily as a result of increased cost to purchase programming and as additional programming is provided to our subscribers. We anticipate that these increases will be mitigated, to some extent, by additional volume discounts associated with Comcast's increased size.

Content Segment

2004, 2003 and 2002 Historical Comparisons

The following table presents our content segment operating results (dollars in millions):

Our content segment consists of the national networks E! Entertainment and Style Network (E! Networks), The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4 and International Channel Networks.

 Revenues.    Our content segment revenue increased $159 million and $107 million, or 25.3% and 20.5%, for the years 2004 and 2003, respectively, compared to the previous year. The increases in 2004 and 2003 revenue reflect increases in distribution and advertising revenue for all of the networks and the 2004 acquisitions of TechTV and International Channel Networks.

 Operating, Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $108 million and $63 million, or 26.1% and 17.9%, for the years 2004 and 2003, respectively, compared to the previous year. Expenses increased in 2004 and 2003 as a result of higher development and marketing expenses for signature events and other original programming in all of our networks, as well as to the effects of our acquisitions of TechTV and International Channel Networks during 2004.

Consolidated Analysis

 Interest Expense.    The decreases in interest expense for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily attributable to our reduced amount of outstanding debt as a result of our net debt repayments during 2004 and 2003. We anticipate that, for the foreseeable future, interest expense will be significant. We believe we will continue to be able to meet our obligations through our ability both to generate operating income before depreciation and amortization and to obtain external financing.

 Interest Income on Affiliate Notes, Net.    The increase in interest income on affiliate notes, net from 2003 to 2004 is principally due to an increase in our notes receivable from affiliates during 2003 and 2004.

 Investment Income (Loss), Net.    Investment income (loss), net includes the following (dollars in millions):

The investment impairment charges for 2003 and 2002 relate principally to other than temporary declines in our investment in AT&T Corp.

We have entered into derivative financial instruments that we account for at fair value and which economically hedge the market price fluctuations in the common stock of most (as of December 31, 2004) of our investments accounted for as trading securities.

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The differences between the unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities and the mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives related to trading securities, as presented in the table above, result from one or more of the following:

•

we did not maintain an economic hedge for our entire investment in the security during some portion or for all of the period,



•

the security to which the derivative relates changed due to a corporate reorganization of the issuing company to a security with a different volatility rate,



•

the issuing company paid a new or an increased dividend to the shareholders of the security, or



•

the change in the time value component of the derivative value during the period.

 Equity in Net Losses of Affiliates.    The changes in equity in net losses of affiliates for the years 2004 and 2003 are primarily due to other than temporary declines in certain of our equity method investees, the effects of our additional investments and changes in the net income or loss of our equity method investees.

 Other Income (Expense).    The increase in other income (expense) from 2003 to 2004 is primarily attributable to the $94 million gain recognized on the sale of our 20% interest in DHC Ventures, LLC (Discovery Health Channel). Refer to Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for a discussion of this sale.

 Income Tax (Expense) Benefit.    The changes in income tax (expense) benefit from 2003 to 2004 and from 2002 to 2003 are primarily the result of the effects of changes in our income (loss) before taxes and minority interest.

 Minority Interest.    The changes in minority interest from 2003 to 2004 and from 2002 to 2003 are attributable to the effects of changes in the net income or loss of our less than wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries and to the minority interests in certain subsidiaries acquired or formed during 2004.

 Discontinued Operations.    Income from discontinued operations decreased from 2002 to 2003 primarily as a result of the 2003 period's including QVC's results through August 31, while the 2002 period includes QVC's results for the full year. As a result of the sale of QVC, we recognized a $3.290 billion gain, net of approximately $2.865 billion of related income taxes.

We believe that our operations are not materially affected by inflation.

STOCK OPTION ACCOUNTING

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS No. 123R"), which replaces SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS No. 123") and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values, beginning with the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005, with early adoption encouraged. In addition, SFAS No. 123R will cause unrecognized expense (based on the amounts in our pro forma footnote disclosure) related to options vesting after the date of initial adoption to be recognized as a charge to results of operations over the remaining vesting period. We are required to adopt SFAS No. 123R in our third quarter of 2005, beginning July 1, 2005. Under SFAS No. 123R, we must determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for valuing share-based payments, the amortization method for compensation cost and the transition method to be used at the date of adoption. The transition alternatives include prospective and retroactive adoption methods. Under the retroactive methods, prior periods may be restated either as of the beginning of the year of adoption or for all periods presented. The prospective method requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options and share awards at the beginning of the first quarter of adoption of SFAS No. 123R, while the retroactive methods would record compensation expense for all unvested stock options and share awards beginning with the first period restated. We are evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 123R and we expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations and earnings per share. We have not determined the method of adoption or the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123R.

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

We are exposed to the market risk of adverse changes in interest rates. Comcast manages the cost and volatility relating to our interest cost of our outstanding debt by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt and by entering into various interest rate risk management derivative transactions.

Comcast monitors our interest rate risk exposures using techniques including market value and sensitivity analyses. We do not hold or issue any derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes and are not a party to leveraged instruments.

Comcast manages the credit risks associated with our derivative financial instruments through the evaluation and monitoring of the creditworthiness of the counterparties. Although Comcast may be exposed to losses in the event of nonperformance by the

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counterparties, we do not expect such losses, if any, to be significant to us. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, all of our swaps are with Comcast and have identical terms to the swaps that Comcast has entered into with third-party counterparties.

These derivative financial instruments, which can include swaps, rate locks, caps and collars, represent an integral part of our interest rate risk management program. During 2004, we decreased our interest expense by approximately $25 million through this program. Our derivative financial instruments did not have a significant effect on interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. However, interest rate risk management instruments may have a significant effect on our interest expense in the future.

The table set forth below summarizes the fair values and contract terms of financial instruments subject to interest rate risk maintained by us as of December 31, 2004 (dollars in millions):

The notional amounts of interest rate instruments, as presented in the table above, are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The estimated fair value approximates the proceeds necessary to settle the outstanding contracts. We estimate interest rates on variable debt using the average implied forward London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") rates for the year of maturity based on the yield curve in effect at December 31, 2004, plus the borrowing margin in effect for each credit facility at December 31, 2004. We estimate the floating rates on our swaps using the average implied forward LIBOR rates for the year of maturity based on the yield curve in effect at December 31, 2004.

As a matter of practice, we typically do not structure our financial contracts to include credit ratings-based triggers that could affect our liquidity. In the ordinary course of business, some of our swaps could be subject to termination provisions if Comcast does not maintain investment-grade credit ratings. As of December 31, 2004, the estimated fair value of the liability to be paid related to those swaps was approximately $21 million. The amount due or to be received upon termination, if any, would be based upon the fair value of those outstanding contracts at that time.

EQUITY PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT

We are exposed to the market risk of changes in the equity prices of some of our investments accounted for as trading securities.

Comcast enters into various derivative transactions pursuant to its policies to manage the volatility relating to these exposures.

Comcast monitors our equity price risk exposures to ensure that the instruments are matched with the underlying assets or liabilities, reduce our risks relating to equity prices, and through market value and sensitivity analyses, maintain a high correlation to the risk inherent in the hedged item.

Comcast uses the following derivative financial instruments, which we account for at fair value, to limit our exposure to and benefits from price fluctuations in the common stock of some of our investments accounted for as trading securities:

•

Cashless collar agreements ("equity collars");



•

Prepaid forward sales agreements ("prepaid forward sales");



•

Indexed debt instruments ("ZONES").

Except as described in Results of Continuing Operations—Investment Income (Loss), Net, the changes in the fair value of our investments accounted for as trading securities were substantially offset by the changes in the fair values of the equity collars and the derivative components of the ZONES and the prepaid forward sales.

Refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for a discussion of our accounting policies with respect to derivative financial instruments and to Notes 5 and 7 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 for discussions of our derivative financial instruments.

ITEM 7A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 Refer to Interest Rate Risk Management on page 19 and Equity Price Risk Management above for a discussion of this item.

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ITEM 8    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Comcast Holdings Corporation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Comcast Holdings Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Comcast Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 21, 2005

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Consolidated Balance Sheet

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statement of Operations

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

We are an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation ("Comcast"), the largest cable operator in the United States. We are a Pennsylvania corporation that was organized in 1969 and we have developed, managed and operated broadband cable networks since 1963. On November 18, 2002, Comcast completed the acquisition of AT&T Corp.'s ("AT&T") broadband business (the "Broadband acquisition"). In connection with the closing of the Broadband acquisition, our shareholders received shares of Comcast Class A common stock, Class A Special common stock and Class B common stock in exchange for shares of our Class A common stock, Class A Special common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, based on an exchange ratio of 1 to 1. Comcast also issued stock options to purchase shares of Comcast common stock in exchange for all of our outstanding stock options, based on an exchange ratio of 1 to 1. As a result of Comcast's acquisition of Broadband, we are now an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast. The entities acquired in the Broadband acquisition are Comcast's subsidiaries but not our subsidiaries.

Our cable segment is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband communications networks in the United States. Our consolidated cable operations served approximately 8.5 million subscribers as of December 31, 2004. Our regional sports and news networks Comcast SportsNet ("CSN"), Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic ("CSN Mid-Atlantic"), Comcast SportsNet Chicago ("CSN Chicago"), Cable Sports Southeast ("CSS"), and CN8—The Comcast Network ("CN8") are included in our cable segment because they derive a substantial portion of their revenues from our cable operations and are managed by cable segment management.