With final Federal Communications Commission approval, Comcast will finally get control of NBC Universal and now the real fun begins.

This is the culmination of a long process that began in December 2009 and will now bring together the forces of Comcast’s Internet and cable services, regional networks, cable networks such as the Golf Channel and Versus to oversee the NBC’s broadcast stations (WRC TV 4 in Washington being one of them), cable channels such as MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Universal HD, Universal Sports and USA.

The deal makes Comcast President Brian Roberts one of the most powerful men in sports and look for him to work very closely with Dick Ebersol the Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.

The new deal makes Comcast-NBC a solid bidder for future the Olympics as they now have the deep pockets to bid against ESPN and FOX.

This will also put Comcast-NBC in the game for a possible return to the NBA, Major League Baseball or any other big event that they would choose to bid on.

The Golf Channel will now have access to the fine stable of NBC golf analysts and, with Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller and the crew, look for even more enhanced coverage.

Versus will benefit because they can serve as ESPN does with ABC. You have NBC being able to take some of its top pre- and post-Olympic programming and will enhance their college presence. Plus it assures us that the NHL will continue to be a big part of the both networks.

ESPN will get part of a new NHL deal but the Versus and NBC combo will continue to play the lead role in future of the league.

One area of speculation is that, in time, CSN Washington, SNY New York, CSN Chicago all could take over the local sports from the locally owned stations — for example CSN Mid Atlantic could take over the sports coverage for NBC4. That is one of many options that has been explored, but not likely to happen anytime soon.

The key here is also broadband and Comcast is one of the biggest players in that field. So, as time moves on we will see just how this deal will change sports. But make no mistake about it, the new Comcast-NBC is a true player in sports both regionally and nationally.