NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - AOL Time Warner Inc. is again in talks about selling its 50 percent stake in cable network Comedy Central to its partner, Viacom Inc., according to a published report.

The New York Post said talks are in a preliminary stage and could drag on. But, it said Viacom is the only potential buyer right now for the network, which has been valued at $1.4 billion.

The paper also reported that as of now AOL Time Warner, parent of CNN/Money, intends to hang onto its 50 percent stake in another cable network, Court TV, which it owns with Liberty Media (L: Research, Estimates).

Viacom Chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone has said publicly he would like to acquire Comedy Central, and AOL Time Warner is seeking to sell what company executives feel to be non-core assets to cut its debt level from about $26 billion at the end of 2002 to about $20 billion by the end of next year. Among other units believed to be up for sale are the book publishing division, the DVD and CD manufacturing operations and three Atlanta sports teams.

The Post had reported a month ago AOL was interested in buying, rather than selling, Comedy Central. But those efforts have now halted, the Post reported Tuesday.

Shares of AOL Time Warner lost 13 cents to $11.27 in trading Monday while the most widely traded shares of Viacom (VIA: Research, Estimates) lost $1.60 to $34.66.