| Call him Al Gore, media baron.
The former vice president is close to striking a $70 million deal to acquire
Newsworld International, a tiny cable network owned by French media giant
Vivendi Universal, media sources said.
Gore and his backers want to turn the digital channel into a liberal-leaning
network. His partners include ex-Democratic fund-raiser Joel Hyatt and media
investment banker Steve Rattner, who's said to be lining up financing.
Carried in just 20 million homes, NWI airs newscasts from around the world,
including reports from the Canadian Broadcasting Co. The net is part of Vivendi
Universal Entertainment, the show biz empire that's about to be acquired by NBC.
Reps for Vivendi and Gore declined to comment.
Phyllis Furman
|
