Comcast ‘in talks’ to buy NBCU

Cable giant Comcast is in talks to buy some or all of NBC Universal (NBCU), according to multiple US reports.

US blog The Wrap claims that a deal has already been agreed, with a purchase price of US$35bn. In a statement, a Comcast spokeswoman said: “The report that Comcast has a deal to purchase NBC Universal is inaccurate,” but did not deny that the two companies are holding acquisition talks.

Speculation has been rife for some time that General Electric might look to offload its 80% controlling stake in NBCU. The remaining 20% is held by French company Vivendi, which is also mooted as being likely to offload its stake in an IPO.

Comcast owns a number of networks, such as E! Entertainment, G4 and MLB Network, as well as part of MGM Studios and United Artists.

The reported talks come after a testing period for NBCU, with the NBC network stuck in fourth place among the US terrestrials, and Universal Pictures having struggled at the box office over the summer.