A Pre-Merger Appetizer: Olshansky Out at NBC U

There'll be plenty of restructuring at NBC (and Comcast) over the next 18 months as their marriage comes together. But first, a little exec shuffle unrelated to the Never-Ending Merger (that, fingers crossed, will be officially announced in less than 12 hours).

NBC Universal TV business affairs chief Rick Olshansky is leaving the network after a half-decade with the company, industry insiders confirm. According to the L.A. Times' Company Town blogger Joe Flint, who broke the news a few hours ago, Olshansky found himself redundant after NBC Entertainment chairman Marc Graboff was asked to take on some more deal-making in the wake of Ben Silverman's exit (and Jeff Gaspin's ascension).

Earlier this week, Variety reported (and NBC announced) a restructuring of NBC's marketing and ad units.  The Times says those moves also have resulted in a small number of layoffs.