The Walt Disney Co., Hearst Corp and NBC Universal are in talks to create a new corporate entity comprising the 10 cable channels the three companies own jointly, including A & E;, Lifetime and History.

Media trade publication Broadcasting & Cable reported on Wednesday that the three partners were close to a deal to create a joint venture that would hold the three popular cable channels, plus Lifetime Movie Networks, Lifetime Real Women, Biography Channel, History International, History on Espanol, Military History, and Crime and Investigation.

Representatives for both Disney Media Networks and Hearst confirmed the talks but declined to provide details. A spokesman for NBC Universal, the media wing of General Electric Co., was not immediately available to comment late Thursday.

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