Comcast Corp. might spend billions for a stake in NBC Universal, a deal that would transform the nation’s largest cable TV provider into one of the most prominent owners of TV shows, movies and other programming as well. General Electric Co., which owns 80 percent of NBC Universal, has been in talks with Comcast to unload part of the entertainment unit, people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press yesterday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are preliminary.

Comcast Corp. is in preliminary talks to take a 20 percent to 50 percent stake in NBC Universal and increase its ownership of the TV shows and movies it distributes to its cable subscribers.

Comcast Corp., the nation’s biggest cable TV systems operator, posted a 53 percent increase in second-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by higher prices and increased customer spending on video and Internet services. But subscriber growth markedly slowed as the recession’s grip didn’t lessen.

The top five new-release movies from Comcast On Demand in Richmond for the week ending Aug. 2:  1. “The Haunting in Connecticut”  2. “Watchmen”  3. “Confessions of a Shopaholic”  4. “Taken”  5. “The International”  1. “The Haunting in Connecticut”

The top five new-release movies from Comcast On Demand in Richmond for the week ending July 26:  1. “Watchmen”  2. “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail”  3. “Knowing”  4. “Taken”  5. “Echelon Conspiracy”  1. “Watchmen”

The top five new-release movies from Comcast On Demand in Richmond for the week ending July 12:  1. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”  2. “Knowing”  3. “12 Rounds”  4. “Taken”  5. “Push”  1. “Knowing”  2. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”

The top five new-release movies from Comcast On Demand in Richmond for the week ending July 5:  1. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”  2. “12 Rounds”  3. “Gran Torino”  4. “Taken”  5. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”  1. “12 Rounds”  2. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”

The top five new-release movies from Comcast On Demand in Richmond for the week ending June 28:  1. “Gran Torino”  2. “Valkyrie”  3. “He’s Just Not That Into You”  4. “Taken”  5. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”  1. “Gran Torino”

Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. yesterday said they will bring cable television shows to the Internet—but only for paying cable subscribers. In a nod that migration of content viewing is rapidly moving online and to the mobile phone, Time Warner, one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, and Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, said they’ll start online video trials nationally in July.

Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. on Wednesday took concrete steps to bring cable television shows to the Internet — but only for paying cable subscribers.

Comcast Corp. has reached a new seven-year agreement that will add the NBA TV channel to the cable TV operator’s most popular digital tier of service before the start of the next pro basketball season. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV provider, struck the deal with NBA Digital that would give NBA TV exposure to 11 million “Digital Classic” viewers compared to the 2 million it had as part of the sports tier, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. An official announcement is expected today.

1. “Notorious”  2. “Bride Wars”  3. “Seven Pounds”  4. “Bolt 5. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008)  1. “Notorious”  2. “Seven Pounds”  3. “Bride Wars”  4. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008)

NEW YORK—The NFL has extended its deals with broadcast partners CBS and Fox and announced a 10-year agreement with cable giant Comcast. The two-year extensions with CBS and Fox will push those networks’ NFL coverage through the 2014 season. CBS, which televises AFC games, received the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl following the 2013 season.

1. “Max Payne”  2. “Burn After Reading”  3. “Wanted”  4. “Death Race”  5. “Step Brothers”  1. “Max Payne”  2. “Step Brothers”  3. “Burn After Reading”  4. “Wanted”  5. “Appaloosa”

1. “Wanted”  2. “Appaloosa”  3. “Step Brothers”  4. “Mirrors”  5. “Hancock”  1. “Appaloosa”  2. “Mirrors”  3. “Wanted”  4. “Hancock”  5. “Step Brothers”