Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994                   TAG: 9409150099
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN BUSINESS

NEW YORK - Walt Disney is talking with General Electric about the possibility of buying its NBC television division, a source familiar with the discussions said Wednesday.

The disclosure increases speculation about potential buyouts, mergers or other alliances involving NBC, which has slipped to third place from first in the prime-time ratings since GE acquired it in 1986.

The report about Disney appeared in Wednesday's editions of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Each said Disney is considering an offer of as much as $5 billion for the NBC network, its seven TV stations and cable channels including CNBC. Price was said to still be a major obstacle.

- Associated Press

Talks at Rubatex near deadline

Bedford County-based Rubatex Corp. and United Rubber Workers Local 240 have until noon Saturday to hammer out a new three-year contract for workers.

The old contract expires at midnight Friday. Saturday day shifts at Rubatex have been called off so negotiations about workers' pay and health-care benefits can continue.

Rubatex workers went on a weeklong strike in 1991 when company officials tried to reduce health care benefits for workers and retirees. The benefits were preserved and the workers received raises.

This year, in July, workers went on a two-day wildcat, not-union-sanctioned strike over working conditions. The dispute still is in arbitration.

- Associated Press