Merger of Vivendi Universal and NBC to Create New Media Giant

Vivendi Universal and General Electric's NBC division agreed to merge, creating one of the world's largest media companies. Assets of the new company would include: the NBC television network and 14 broadcast stations in major U.S. cities; a portfolio of leading cable channels (USA Network, Sci-Fi Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, and Trio); Universal Pictures; Universal Television; and Spanish-language TV broadcaster Telemundo. The proposed transaction would result in GE, NBC's parent company, owning 80% of the new company and Vivendi Universal owning 20%.


GE said the merger offers "a unique opportunity to extend NBC's legacy as the nation's first broadcast company well into the coming age of digital media."http://www.ge.com