Comcast and Verizon Are Interested in Fox's Film, TV Assets

Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. have looked into acquiring a big portion of 21st Century Fox Inc., swooping in after talks to sell film and television assets to Walt Disney Co. cooled, according to people familiar with the matter.

Comcast, the owner of TV networks such as NBC and the movie studio Universal Pictures, approached the Rupert Murdoch-controlled media group about the assets, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Verizon, the biggest U.S. wireless carrier, has some interest in the same collection of holdings, two of the people said. Fox shares surged 5.2 percent in late trading after CNBC and the Wall Street Journal reported the news earlier.