NBC UNIVERSAL MAKES $1 BILLION THEME PARK DEAL

Steve Burke, who as a young Disney exec once told CEO Michael Eisner, “My dream job would be to run a theme park” — and then went on to run Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris) — has now, as CEO of NBC Universal, concluded a deal to buy Blackstone Group’s 50-percent stake in Universal Orlando for $1.025 billion. It is the first major acquisition that NBC Universal has made since Comcast took control of the company in January. “Universal Orlando is a consistent and significant driver of operating and free cash flow and is performing extremely well. It has a superb management team and exciting growth opportunities,” Burke said in a statement. Universal Orlando is the umbrella group encompassing Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk.