Jeff Zucker grabbed power in a restructuring of NBC Inc. on Monday that made him the czar of both news and creative content -- and possibly positioned him to become heir apparent to NBC Chief Executive Bob Wright.
Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, assumed the newly created title of president of news, entertainment and cable. At the same time, NBC Television Network President Randy Falco gained authority over more of NBC's business relationships, streamlining the broadcaster's management team in anticipation of its expected acquisition next year of Vivendi Universal's entertainment assets.
The realignment reduces the number of executives reporting to Wright, 61, who is gearing up to become the CEO of the new NBC Universal, which will be controlled by NBC parent General Electric Co.
"We're trying to align NBC so we get the most out of the entertainment and news assets," Wright said in an interview.
Under the restructuring, Zucker added to his portfolio the news group, which includes NBC News and cable channels CNBC and the badly lagging MSNBC. News had been reporting to Wright since the departure early this year of NBC President Andrew Lack, who had overseen the group.
"NBC News is in terrific shape, CNBC is in good shape, and MSNBC has some strong parts and is continuing to find its way," said Zucker, 38, who was a producer of NBC's "Today" show for about six years before moving to Los Angeles three years ago to head up entertainment.
An aggressive and competitive executive whose rise at NBC has been meteoric, Zucker has maintained NBC's position as the top-ranked network among young adults, the age group advertisers covet. But some Hollywood executives say NBC is in for a fall and have criticized Zucker for failing to develop replacements for the network's outgoing hit comedies, "Friends" and "Frasier."
Wright, however, said NBC takes the long-term view when judging its executives.
"His performance over time has been excellent," Wright said. "The half-hour comedy is the hardest thing to reproduce."
After the Vivendi deal is completed next spring, Zucker will relocate to New York. He will, as widely speculated, hand over the reins of NBC Entertainment to Kevin Reilly, who recently joined the network as president of prime-time development.
Zucker, who will continue to supervise entertainment, will see his cable portfolio grow.
