Tuning In to TV

Comcast eyeing NBC

Comcast Corp. is in negotiations to buy 20 percent to 50 percent of NBC Universal, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Two people described the talks to Associated Press, confirming earlier reports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the preliminary nature of the talks, AP said Thursday.

The deal hinges in part on whether the French conglomerate Vivendi SA decides to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal. General Electric Co. owns the rest.

Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV provider, could use NBC Universal to broaden the content it distributes. NBC Universal has several cable channels plus the NBC and Telemundo networks, Universal Pictures movie studio and a chain of theme parks. A 50 percent stake could cost at least $10 billion, AP said.

Back to school

That clock around Flavor Flav’s neck says it’s time to return to reality TV.

The original basic-cable ladies’ man is teaming with producer Eric Ortner to shop a new series to networks in which he returns to high school to earn his diploma.

Flav (or as he was known in school, William Drayton) says he dropped out in the 10th grade.

Who knew?

“I just want to show the world it’s never too late to get your diploma and show kids they should stay in school and not wait until you’re old to get it,” Flav said. “Everybody sees me as this big love mogul. Now I got a baby girl, I’ve been there and done that, and now it’s time for the next episode.”

Flav starred in VH1’s “The Surreal Life,” “Strange Love” and three seasons on the popular dating show “Flavor of Love,” which set ratings records for the network. Flav ended up settling down with a woman he met outside the show.

“Flavor of Love” spawned sequels that ran into controversy recently when contestant Ryan Jenkins was accused of murder.

With VH1 looking to move away from lurid dating shows, Mr. Ortner — who would be executive producer of the show with Ethan Goldman and Michael Hirschorn — thinks the timing is right for Flav to return with a new format.

“It’s perfect timing to change the type of show he was going to do and be more message-driven,” Mr. Ortner said, noting the project was in the works before the Jenkins scandal.

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