Weather Channel sale could come in 2 days

By Jui Chakravorty Das

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Landmark Communications could announce the sale of the Weather Channel to a group made up of NBC Universal, Blackstone Group LP (BX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Bain Capital in the next day or two, sources briefed on the matter said.

The final price on the cable network, which produces national, regional and local weather-related programs, is expected to be between $3 billion and $3.5 billion, and likely at the higher end of that range, the sources said.

The parties have been negotiating directly with Landmark since Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) withdrew its bid two weeks ago.

There is always a small chance things could fall apart or slow down at the last minute, but absent any such unforeseen problems, the deal should be announced in the next couple days, one of the people said.

Landmark, Blackstone and Bain could not be reached for comment. NBC Universal declined to comment.

Sources have previously told Reuters the consortium would divide $1.8 billion of equity roughly equally in their bid, which would be worth about $3.5 billion, including debt.

Blackstone's GSO Capital -- a hedge fund specializing in leveraged debt -- would provide about $600 million in debt, another source had told Reuters.

The Weather Channel network serves about 96 million U.S. subscribers and can be seen in more than 97 percent of all cable television homes.