General Electric Co. and Vivendi SA are about $500 million apart in talks over what Vivendi should be paid for its minority stake in television and movie company NBC Universal, according to people familiar with the matter.

That stake is a key element in a potential deal that could give U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp. control of NBC Universal, and eventually usher GE out of the entertainment business. GE currently owns 80 percent of NBC Universal and Vivendi has 20 percent.

For months, GE and Comcast have been discussing a potential tie-up involving NBC Universal. In the deal being considered, Comcast would pay cash and merge its cable networks with NBC Universal for a 51 oercent stake in the enlarged company, according to people familiar with the talks.

Vivendi has power in part because of rights it received as part of the 2004 deal to create NBC Universal.

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