Company's longtime VP Jose Lopez has relaunched independent distributor
Comcast & NBC-U: 'They've All Agreed to Agree'
Executives at NBC-Universal are smacking their foreheads over an interview General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt gave Ron Grover at Business Week today, in which the current top dog made it clear that come what may, his man Jeff Zucker will still have a job.
That’s the message coming from between the lines of Immelt ‘s remarks :
“He’s a smart, tough media executive who is not afraid of change at a very difficult time for the media industry,” Immelt said, apparently without having looked at Leno’s ratings.
Immelt adds: “I think he’s as good as anyone running a media company today, and he’s only 42 years old.” Zucker is 44, as Grover points out.
Cynical, critical-minded, eeevil journalists have long skewered Zucker as one of the luckiest sons of guns working in television -- the man who, objectively, has presided over NBC’s fall from first to fourth place among broadcast networks and whose movie studio now dangles far behind the other majors.
This kind of blind support is infuriating those who work beneath Zucker.
“Here’s the guy who destroyed 'The Tonight Show,'” said one bewildered top executive. “Destroyed Conan O’Brien. He’s ruined the primetime line-up. 'Southland' is one of the best shows on TV, and it’s gone. He’s destroyed NBC.”
Well, this is the kind of thing you used to hear from competitors. Zucker is well known as an executive highy skilled at managing up. Looks like he’s not done such a good job managing down.
But this well-timed interview also suggests that Immelt is positioning any sale to Comcast to include a role for Zucker, who may be retained expressly to guard GE’s 49 percent interest.
So ... yeah. What’s up with that deal we first told you about two weeks ago?
Nobody I know believes the latest round of sniffing around the edges of NBC-Universal by NewsCorp or Liberty Media. (And thanks to Joe Flint for pointing up the heavy breathing in those reports. We now forgive him for rewriting our story break with a by-the-by credit near the bottom. 's ok, Joe.)
What I am hearing from inside and around the deal is that indeed the Comcast deal to buy 51 percent of NBC-Universal is done in principle, but it will be several more weeks before anything official is announced.
“They’ve all agreed to agree,” is how one executive with knowledge of the deal put it.
If that’s the case, then Vivendi will not need to prepare an IPO to exercise its 20 percent put of NBC-Universal.
Then ... out with the old boss, in with the new boss. And we can all prepare for the new culture change at NBC-Universal -- yet again.
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Dr Joseph P.Sinda Says
It's true this Deal is in the Works and The "WRAP" had the scoop on it two weeks ago.Vivendi holds the Key with there 20%.
The Holiday's are Closing Fast. Comcast is smarter and will Fly Zucker to a Private Island.'Here, Take this Golden Parachute or swim back home with The Sharks.' Jim Wiatt will hand him his boarding instructions via a Private Jet.
As for NBC. I would bring back for Programing: Stewart Schezlow. He did a fantastic job when he was there, Then when he went to FOX, He was the Godfather of "The SIMPSON'S" Series, The SIMPSON'S Movie and Theme Park Ride at Universal Studios.That's brought in Billions to Rupert Murdoch.Stewart is a Genius and Robert and Shell should know it.He's also got some Dynamite Product ready to Distribute.
Yes, they'll be some Plastic Surgery, Nip and Tucking. Run for Cover when The Pink Slips rain down hard. Comcast will go through every Department Top to Bottom. Sell off certain Assests and Head hunt for Key Execs.
Don't be Surprized if Terry Melcher former WB Head Exec and Yahoo gets a Call from Comcast to Go to Universal.Another Genius.Terry is also a No Nonsence, Take No Prisoners. In Your Face Entertainment Production Corporate. Maybe Tom Malloy might be called into consult.
It's dialing in and Finding The Right Brand. The Right Format,Ad format. I suggest MNM, Micro Niche Marketing.
Super 3.0 Fast and very effective.Developed by DocHollywoodMedia/
The Right Management and Marketing Arm.Look at Leslie Moonves. Ever since He was with Warner Bros TV. Now heading UP Viacom/CBS & CW.He's incredible has impecable Taste and Judgement.A true Media Wizard.
Then they should Hire The Great Digital Guru of our Time. John "Jack" Beckett over at Hollywood Soundstages.He could make Upgrade Changes that will open up new Technologies, save Money and create brand new Revenue Streams. Oh, Yea!
Somehow I think Lew Wasserman is watching over this. THe Japanese will never sell there 10% stake in Universal.
Doc Joseph Sinda
Anonymous Says
Zucker will head NBCU for as long as Immelt holds sway. Welch believed that GE should be #1 or #2 in every division or get out of that sector, Immelt does not believe such high-minded things....but none of this will matter once Comcast is in control. They'll go Jim Wiatt on Zucker and either buy out his contract or let him sue. Either way, Roberts and Shell are no dummies and will not put up with a guy like Zucker for long.