Comcast will spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone media company, underscoring how finance chiefs are increasingly being tapped for the top job.

CEO Brian Roberts’s trusted advisers.

Comcast is planning to split off NBCUniversal, creating two titans that will remain independent, Comcast announced. Many on Wall Street doubt either will remain that way for long.

A spinoff clock is forcing the media giant to find growth on its own, and the answer might not look like television at all.

Comcast (CMCSA) opened Monday’s trading up nearly 17% on news that the company would spin off its NBCUniversal and Sky media and entertainment businesses, keeping the cable, wireless, and broadband businesses,

Comcast Co-CEO Brian Roberts sought to downplay the scenario that the media giant will be primed for dealmaking once it splits into two companies next year. “Absolutely not,” Roberts said in response to the M&A question during an investor call this morning.

The case for bundling media with distribution has weakened in the streaming era, but further M&A makes less sense.