The Jeff Zucker Era at NBC may be in its final months.
Zucker is reportedly working out details for a deal in which he'd depart as president and CEO of NBC Universal soon after Comcast finishes its acquisition of the Peacock. That's expected to happen early next year, and Zucker would leave "a couple of months" afterward, the New York Post reports.
A spokesperson for NBC Universal's current parent, GE, denies reports of an exit package for Zucker, but the Post reports a deal is coming together and would be valued in the $30 million-$40 million range. The news comes despite the fact that Comcast and GE recently extended Zucker's contract through 2013.
Zucker has been with NBC for virtually his entire career, rising from NBC Sports researcher to "Today" executive producer in the early '90s. He became president of NBC Entertainment in 2000, presiding over the final years of the "Friends" era and green-lighting shows like "Scrubs," "Fear Factor" and "Coupling." He continued climbing the executive ranks and became president and CEO of NBCU in 2007.
NBC's broadcast fortunes have declined significantly in the past few years, and although its cable properties are thriving, profits fell significantly in 2009. He's no longer in charge of the day-to-day running of the network; Jeff Gaspin is the chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment and Angela Bromstad is the entertainment president.
Zucker is reportedly working out details for a deal in which he'd depart as president and CEO of NBC Universal soon after Comcast finishes its acquisition of the Peacock. That's expected to happen early next year, and Zucker would leave "a couple of months" afterward, the New York Post reports.
A spokesperson for NBC Universal's current parent, GE, denies reports of an exit package for Zucker, but the Post reports a deal is coming together and would be valued in the $30 million-$40 million range. The news comes despite the fact that Comcast and GE recently extended Zucker's contract through 2013.
Zucker has been with NBC for virtually his entire career, rising from NBC Sports researcher to "Today" executive producer in the early '90s. He became president of NBC Entertainment in 2000, presiding over the final years of the "Friends" era and green-lighting shows like "Scrubs," "Fear Factor" and "Coupling." He continued climbing the executive ranks and became president and CEO of NBCU in 2007.
NBC's broadcast fortunes have declined significantly in the past few years, and although its cable properties are thriving, profits fell significantly in 2009. He's no longer in charge of the day-to-day running of the network; Jeff Gaspin is the chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment and Angela Bromstad is the entertainment president.
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