Liberty Media (NYSE:L - News), Viacom (NYSE:VIAb - News) and General Electric's (NYSE:GE - News) NBC television network are all said to be interested in at least part of Vivendi Universal Entertainment, the U.S. subsidiary grouping the showbiz and theme park assets on sale.
They join Texan oil billionnaire Marvin Davis, who last year bid $20 billion for VUE plus Universal Music, including assumed debt, in chasing all or part of the fallen Vivendi empire.
Liberty wants the whole slate of assets on sale to reduce the holding company discount on its stock, while Viacom is interested in combining Universal Studios with its Paramount Studios -- though that may raise regulatory issues.
NBC is interested solely in the cable TV assets that previously belonged to USA Networks, sources said. Investment fund Blackstone is meanwhile after the theme parks.
