I got spun today. Bamboozled. Flak 1, Hack 0.
Brian Roberts of Comcast told me first thing this morning that part of the reason for his doubtless audacious £22 billion bid for Sky was a conversation with a cab driver last time he was in London.
He told others too. We all lapped it up.
It’s a charming little bit of colour and hacks are suckers for that sort of thing. Amidst the rocketing shares, the Murdoch-related intrigue and the general excitement that goes with a takeover tussle, I forgot to ask an important question: Is Comcast a good company?
It’s track-record is patchy, I’d say. (scroll down to Criticism and Controversy).
Moreover, I entirely forgot that the charming Mr Roberts was embroiled in somewhat of a controversy about the use of the company corporate jet a while back.
I forgot to check what he gets paid. I was a shambles, basically.
My colleagues will surely do better in the morning papers.