NEW YORK -- General Electric Co.'s NBC and Fox Entertainment Group Inc. said yesterday that they will team with National Geographic Ventures to expand the National Geographic Channel to the United States.

Fox, the U.S. television, film and sports unit of News Corp., will own 50 percent of the cable TV channel's operations worldwide, except for areas covered by National Geographic U.K., and NBC and National Geographic each will own 25 percent.

The fast-growing channel, which features programs on nature and other documentaries, is part of the National Geographic Society, the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization. The channel can be seen in 40 million homes in 54 countries throughout Asia, Australia and Europe, and would compete with the Discovery Channel and other documentary channels.

Part of the channel's profits will be earmarked for exploration, research and education. The group said it will be the first commercial channel to do so.

The companies said they will hold discussions with cable and satellite operators and expect to make another announcement about the channel and its U.S. rollout by the end of the year.

Pub Date: 5/06/99