Vivendi and GE close on deal to sell NBCU stake…

The Wall Street Journal’s Sam Schechner and Jeffrey McCracken write about Vivendi and GE being deep in talks to sell Vivendi’s stake in NBC Universal…(sub req.)

General Electric Co. and Vivendi SA are about $500 million apart in talks over what Vivendi should be paid for its minority stake in television and movie company NBC Universal, according to people familiar with the matter.

That stake is a key element in a potential deal that could give U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp. control of NBC Universal, and eventually usher GE out of the entertainment business. GE currently owns 80% of NBC Universal and Vivendi has 20%.

For months, GE and Comcast have been discussing a potential tie-up involving NBC Universal. In the deal being considered, Comcast would …