Comcast unveiled the details of its takeover of NBC Universal earlier this morning. The cable company will hold 51% of NBC U to GE’s %49. Jeff Zucker, the current president of NBC U, will become CEO of the new Comcast-owned company. And it will still be based in New York City.

Comcast channels (like The Golf Channel and E!) will be contributed to NBC U’s new and improved television umbrella and Comcast will create a new division entitled Comcast Entertainment Group. [Variety]

This has been a long time coming. NBC Universal needed a hero and Comcast is clearly aiming at world domination Jonathan Pryce-in-that-Bond movie style, so everyone wins in this case.

What do you think of this news? How will this change television?

After weeks of prolonged negotiations, it seems that GE and Vivendi have finally come to terms on the liquid worth of Vivendi’s 20 percent stake in NBC Universal: approximately $5.8 billion. The information comes courtesy of an anonymous close in the dealings, so take that as you will [Variety].

Vivendi had been holding out for somewhere in the $6.5-$7 billion range while GE wanted $5.4-$6 billion. The numbers suggest the winner in this case.

But then Vivendi needed the money. The company recently invested $4.2 billion to gain control of the Brazilian telecom operator GVT. That said, Vivendi may still hold out – their window closes on December 10th.

Either way, Comcast (the Philapdelphia-based company in the U.S.’s largest cable television provider) is buying the majority control of NBC Universal no matter what Vivendi’s stake is sold at.

What do you think of this update?

GE must buy back Vivendi’s 20% share of NBC Universal in order for Comcast to takeover the media conglomerate. And though it looked as though Vivendi was posed to make a deal with GE, recent reports confirm that the two companies are still “$500 million-$1 billion apart in their valuation of NBC U. And GE needs to buy back Vivendi’s stake to proceed with its plan to sell 51% of NBC U to Comcast, which plans to merge its cable channels with NBC U’s assets.” [Variety]

Comcast and GE have agreed in what NBC Universal is worth ($28 billion-$30 billion), making Vivendi’s percentage worth $5.4 billion-$6 billion. Vivendi’s holding out for $6.5 billion to $7 billion.

Everyone is looking for the safest way out (and, in Comcast’s situation, in). Comcast will most likely have a clause in their takeover that requires them to put up less cash if NBC Universal’s financial worth declines in between the time of the agreement and the takeover.

It seems like Vivendi is doing the same thing, only up front as they are selling off all of their stake. That being said, asking for $1 billion over the projected worth (around 1/6 above it as a matter of fact).

What do you think of this news? Is Vivendi asking for too much?