NBC - REPORTS COMCAST, G.E. DEAL CLOSE AT HAND

REPORTS COMCAST, G.E. DEAL CLOSE AT HAND

Cable operator Comcast and GE are likely to finalize a deal as early as next week in which Comcast would take over control of NBC Universal, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported today (Monday). The Times indicated that the deal hinges on the ability of GE to make a separate agreement with French media conglomerate Vivendi, which owns a 20-percent share of NBC Universal. The newspaper observed "Talks with Vivendi may still fall apart, people familiar with the talks cautioned." But Journal media columnist Martin Peers suggested that "Comcast has its work cut out to persuade investors [that the deal] is a good idea." Peers warned that it could weaken Comcast's focus on its core business and that regulators are likely to impose a load of conditions on it.

02/11/2009