Entertainer Bill Cosby is interested in buying General Electric's National Broadcasting Co., New York Newsday re-ported Wednesday.
Cosby did not personally make a bid for the television network, but his agent, Norman Brokaw, approached a top executive at the network Oct. 23, the newspaper said. Brokaw, chairman of the William Morris Agency, wasn't available for comment.Brokaw "communicated Mr. Cosby's interest and desire" to buy NBC, David Brokaw, a Cosby spokesman and son of Norman Brokaw, told Newsday. Forbes magazine has estimated Cosby's fortune at $300 million. Asking price for NBC is expected to be around $4 billion.
Cosby told the network that he would not be the only person involved in a formal bid, the newspaper reported.
Among others reportedly interested in the network are former Fox Inc. chairman Barry Diller and Paramount Studios, headed by former NBC entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff.