Comcast may seal a deal to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal from General Electric by next Monday, creating one of America’s largest media companies. The deal, which values NBC Universal at about $30bn, would give Comcast, the top US cable operator, a 51% stake in a joint venture that would combine its cable channels with the oldest US broadcast network. The deal is at an advanced stage but could yet fall apart. It also depends on whether Vivendi sells its 20% stake in NBC Universal back to GE.
