For what seems like a lifetime now, Vivendi has been for sale. Vivendi, if you haven't been paying attention to the onslaught, is the Paris-based monster global media conglomerate — film, music, telecommunications, and oh so much more.

The sale has been the cocktease of the century. Seagram's man — and Vivendi stockholder — Edgar Bronfman, Jr., was near to closing a $13 billion-dollar deal on behalf of a shadowy collective. He's been trash-talking bidding rivals NBC for weeks now. But finally, finally, NBC/General Electric is said to have made an offer that may be accepted at this week's emergency Vivendi board meeting. The only thing clear until after that meeting is that Barry Diller, former Vivendi Chairman and the world's most ingenious financial puppeteer, will profit once again.

We have some advice for Vivendi: You have over-played this sale in the media. SELL THE DAMN COMPANY ALREADY. WE'RE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT. Seriously. We'd sell our mothers to pony up $15 billion for ya if we never have to hear about Vivendi again.
Vivendi Nears NBC Merger Deal [Reuters]
Diller influence to impact Vivendi sale [LA Times]