Comcast homes in on NBC stake
November 9, 2009
Comcast may seal a deal to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal from General Electric within the next week say US reports.
The deal, which values NBC Universal at about $30 billion, would give Comcast, the top US cable operator, a 51 per cent stake in a joint venture that would combine its small roster of cable channels with America's oldest broadcast network and some of the media's largest cable networks.
The deal is at an advanced stage but could yet fall apart and is also dependent on Vivendi selling its 20 per cent stake in NBC Universal back to GE. Vivendi has not indicated what it may decide. Under the terms of the deal, Comcast is expected to contribute its cable channels and about $6 billion in cash.