Comcast Wants Content

The murky waters of a potential deal between Comcast and GE have become only partially clearer. Although Comcast denied Wednesday reports that it was close to a deal to buy GE’s NBC Universal--which includes channels such as NBC, MSNBC, USA, and Bravo--for $35 billion, it is weighing a potential deal, according to the Wall Street Journal. Comcast called the reports "inaccurate," according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, although a senior vice president did say, "We are looking for content." Top GE executives denied that they're interested in selling NBC Universal, although growth in the media division has slowed. A potential deal could also come from French conglomerate Vivendi, which owns a 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, and could exercise its yearly option to sell the stake to Comcast, the largest cable operator in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reports that GE is exploring other possible options for the Vivendi stake, including third-party buyers.