GE, Comcast Value NBC Universal at $30B

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- General Electric(GE Quote) and Comcast(CMCSA Quote) have agreed to value NBC Universal at around $30 billion.

This step clears a key obstacle to giving Comcast control of GE's television and movie company, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

The two companies are now ironing out the final details of an agreement. An announcement could be made as early as the end of this week, the people said, the Journal reports.

A wrench in the deal, however, is France's Vivendi, the media conglomerate that owns 20% of NBC Universal. It hasn't yet agreed to a deal, according to Reuters. It reports earnings Thursday and could provide details then.

GE owns 80% of NBC Universal.

Last week, when Comcast exceeded analyst targets with its third-quarter profit, offered no comment on its pursuit of NBC Universal.

Under the deal reportedly being discussed, Comcast's cable networks would be merged with NBC Universal's TV networks, movie studio and local TV stations.

-- Reported by Joseph Woelfel in New York .

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