COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Time Warner Reportedly Near Deal With Cablevision: The company is close to an accord to buy all or part of the cable TV systems of Cablevision Industries Inc., the Wall Street Journal reported. The newspaper said that privately held Cablevision is worth at least $2.5 billion. Cablevision said in November that it was in talks with Time Warner Inc. and at least two other companies about forming an alliance for expansion. The newspaper quoted unidentified sources as saying Time Warner was the surviving suitor. Neither company would comment on the report, which also said financing was not yet arranged. Time Warner stock slipped 25 cents to $34.625 a share on the New York Stock Exchange.