EXCLUSIVE
Enough of this piecemeal, torturous game of Who Gets What.
TheWrap has drilled deep into the hearts of Brian Roberts and Steve Burke — and people who are close to them — to bring you the new executive configuration at NBC-Universal under the putative new owner, Comcast.
As previously reported, the peacock in chief will be Steve Burke (center), the Comcast COO who will become the chief executive at NBC-Universal.
Also read: Meet Steve Burke: The Exorcist for What Ails NBC.
The new structure envisions a multipronged (multifeathered?) hierarchy, with a half-dozen division heads reporting directly to Burke. The current layer of executive leadership in Jeff Zucker is essentially removed.
The following list is what is currently proposed. In many cases deals have not closed, but represent what is being offered to executives:
* Bob Greenblatt, recently president of entertainment at Showtime, will run NBC entertainment.
* Bonnie Hammer, President of NBC Universal Cable, will keep her current responsibilities and inherit those of E! and G4 cable operations from Comcast.
* Lauren Zalaznick, President NBC Universal Women & Lifestyles, will keep current responsibilities and also receive Telemundo, Style and digital assets from Comcast.
* Jeff Shell, who now runs the Comcast programming group (including Ted Harbert’s E!), would run international in London.
* Patricia Fili-Krushel, currently executive vice president of administration at Time-Warner, will fill the newly-created position of chief administrative officer managing business development, human resources, legal and MediaWorks.
* Steve Capus will continue to be president of NBC News.
* Dick Ebersol will continue to run NBC Sports, and inherit Comcast’s Golf cable channel.
* Mark Hoffman remains president of CNBC and reports to Burke.
* Matt Bond, content acquisition head at Comcast, will take over distribution at NBCU.
It doesn’t appear that Jeff Gaspin, the current chairman of NBCU television, would have much dominion left to rule. (despite a report to the contrary, Gaspin has not been informed that he will depart and did not meet with Comcast executives on an east coast trip this week, according to knowledgeable individuals)However, he could manage NBC’s local station group.Given this structure, it seems unlikely that former CBS executive Nancy Tellem, who has interviewed with Comcast, would be interested in a role.
Ted Harbert of E! is not getting a promotion, despite his close ties to Burke. (
Update: Ted Harbert, who runs E!, apparently is receiving a promotion. A report in the Los Angeles Times on Saturday November 13, said that he is expected to be offered responsibility for the business side of the network, including advertising sales and affiliate relations. TheWrap confirmed that Harbert is receiving a promotion of some kind, and regrets the error.
Also in the works: NBC Universal will decentralize its ad sales operations, dividing it between broadcast and cable.
That leaves the future of Michael Pilot, who currently heads sales, uncertain. Word from the inside is that NBCU’s Marianne Gambelli will continue to head broadcast sales, while Dave Cassaro, currently of Comcast, will head cable sales.
Comcast declined to comment on any of this.