GE & Pearson Drop Dow Jones Discussions

> Update: 4:23pm: David Faber broke the news at 12:15pm on CNBC…

General Electric and Pearson “have called a halt to any conversations about a collaborative bid for Dow Jones,” TV Week reports.

Here’s the statement from GE: “GE and NBC Universal are always evaluating opportunities to enhance our businesses and shareowner value, particularly when they involve superior global brands such as CNBC, the Financial Times Group and Dow Jones. GE and CNBC recently held exploratory discussions with Pearson regarding a possible combination of these properties. Following these discussions, GE and Pearson have decided not to pursue this combination.”