NBC’s Zucker Takes Reins of News, Creative Content

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.

Joining Bravo, which Zucker has overseen since NBC purchased it last year, will be Universal’s USA, Sci Fi and Trio cable channels.

Zucker also will assume responsibility for Universal’s television production unit, which produces the powerful “Law & Order” crime dramas, according to Hollywood sources.

The unit is now under the authority of Ron Meyer, Vivendi Universal’s entertainment president. Wright said Monday that Meyer would report to him and would continue to be in charge of theme parks and the movie studio.

Among Zucker’s biggest challenges will be to resuscitate MSNBC, which is being beaten badly by Fox News and CNN in the cable news wars. He also must distinguish USA at a time when cable operators are challenging the value of general entertainment channels.

In light of the new challenges, NBC on Monday moved certain responsibilities for Telemundo, the company’s Spanish-language television network, to two other NBC executives. Zucker will continue to head prime-time programming for Telemundo but will hand financial oversight to Falco, who currently oversees NBC’s network operations, advertising sales and cable distribution.

Jay Ireland, who now oversees NBC’s 14 television stations, will take on responsibility for Telemundo’s 15 television stations. Like Zucker, both Ireland and Falco report to Wright.

Zucker also will relinquish some responsibilities after the Vivendi Universal transaction is completed.

Day-to-day operations of the expanded entertainment-based cable group will come under Jeff Gaspin, a former NBC programming executive who now runs Bravo, according to industry sources.