Jack Valenti, Hollywood's voice in Washington for nearly 38 years, most likely will step down in early January as chief of the Motion Picture Assn. of America while retaining the chairman's title and continuing to oversee the movie ratings system he fathered, sources said Thursday.
People familiar with the matter said Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.) remained the clear front-runner to replace the 82-year-old Valenti, who last summer disclosed he was planning for succession but left the timing vague.
With an annual salary of $1 million, Valenti occupies one of Washington's highest-paying and most visible lobbying positions.
Tauzin's name has been linked to the job as far back as January, with the 60-year-old chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee edging slowly toward the MPAA post amid repeated reports that a secret deal already has been forged.
But sources said there still was no formal agreement between Tauzin and the MPAA.
"There's no final stamp," one source said.
Still, several senior studio executives said it was informally understood that Tauzin would accept the title of MPAA president and chief executive if offered. The MPAA's member studios have given their quiet blessing to the move, sources said.
Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson said up to this point, "no one from the MPAA and none of the studio heads have contacted him about the position."
But, Johnson said, "is he on their wish list? Absolutely. If Jack Valenti retires, and in fact an offer is made, he will listen to what they have to say."
The MPAA declined to comment.
The MPAA's three-member finance committee -- made up of Viacom Entertainment Group Chairman Jonathan Dolgen, News Corp. President Peter Chernin and Walt Disney Co. President Robert Iger -- would work with Valenti to finalize any deal with Tauzin.
Earlier, certain studio officials privately expressed reservations about whether Tauzin would be a good fit with the MPAA, while some put out feelers to gauge who else might be available. Executives at Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros., for example, met with former Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke and Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), who was co-chairman of Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful campaign for California governor.
Hollywood's studios have given Valenti wide latitude in setting a schedule for his departure.
