Burke's Law: NBC executive shakeup gets started ahead of Comcast merger

No sooner did Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) COO Steve Burke--the man who will be the face of NBC Universal--meet with NBC executives than sources said Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBCU Television "will be departing."

Neither Comcast, NBC nor Gaspin would comment on the move, which is, predictably, shrouded in contradictions since reports in two different industry publications differed on whether Gaspin met with Burke or any other Comcast executives. Both agreed on the end result: Gaspin "will leave when Philadelphia-based Comcast takes over."

The convoluted and secretive executive shuffle Burke's been conducting at NBC should climax next week when a reorganization chart is unveiled. Gaspin had, according to earlier reports, been expected to be part of that reorganization and even serve as Burke's top lieutenant. That's apparently not going to happen now.

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