Jeff Zucker, the fast-rising television executive who made his name as executive producer of NBC's morning show "Today," will be named chief executive of NBC Universal this week, according to four people at the company.
Zucker, 41, will succeed Bob Wright, who has spent nearly 21 years building the company brick by brick, transforming "the peacock" from a stand-alone TV network into a sprawling entertainment empire with broadcast and cable channels, a Hollywood movie studio and theme parks.
Wright's reign will have been among the longest in media history.
The regime change was confirmed by people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the appointment was not yet official. Key executives from NBC Universal's West Coast operations planned to fly to New York this week for the announcement.
The move comes as Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of General Electric Co., the owner of NBC Universal, looks to shake up its entertainment unit and compete more aggressively against digital powers such as Google and popular youth websites such as MySpace.
NBC's dominance in TV has slipped in recent years. All traditional media have lost ground as advertisers and viewers have migrated to the Internet.
The 63-year-old Wright, who is also a vice chairman of GE, had wanted to stay on as chief executive at least until the end of the year, three people close to him said. But Immelt, 50, insisted that the transition occur now. He was determined to put his own team in place at NBC Universal, just as GE's legendary chief executive Jack Welch did when he handed the keys to Wright when the industrial behemoth bought the network in 1986.
The GE boss decided late last year that Zucker, after being groomed for more than a decade, was ready for the top job, according to two people familiar with his thinking.
GE and NBC Universal declined to comment.
Cultural change coming?
The changing of the guard could radically alter the culture within NBC Universal, which is known for its buttoned-down, financially focused sensibilities. Wright is a lawyer and financial strategist seen as serious, cerebral and aloof, while Zucker is considered more of a creative executive who is casual, cocky and known for his shoot-from-the-hip style.
In addition to its headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, NBC Universal has West Coast operations that include Universal Studios, KNBC Channel 4, two Spanish-language television stations, and TV and film production facilities in Universal City and Burbank.
