Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ‘offers $200m for cable channel’

Hip-hop impresario Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has reportedly offered around US$200 million (€144 million) to buy US cable channel Fuse.

Combs, who made his millions as rapper Puff Daddy and a hip-hop record label owner, plans to merge Fuse with his Revolt TV cable network to quickly widen its distribution, according to Bloomberg.

Fuse is currently owned by the Madison Square Garden Company and is available in 74 million comes through a variety of cable TV providers, while Revolt TV is currently only available in 22.8 million via backer Comcast Communications and Time Warner Cable.

The two channels are a good strategic fit, with both dedicated a good percentage of airtime to black music videos, though Fuse also has a string of original commissions too.

Combs is thought to be one of several bidders for Fuse.