Comcast said COO Steve Burke will be the new head of NBC Universal, replacing CEO Jeff Zucker, once it completes its deal to acquire control of the company from General Electric. Burke, who helped integrate ABC into Disney's entertainment empire more than a decade ago, is being tapped at a time that television networks increasingly are looking for new ways to monetize online content, which is slowly taking audience from traditional delivery modes, a trend that's threatening to accelerate.
"I think Comcast will quickly recognize that monetizing content through as many channels as possible is the most important goal," Zucker told the Wall Street Journal.
The move may be just the leading edge of a change in leadership at broadcast networks as more look to take advantage of the changing landscape of programming delivery. In addition to Burke, other changes at major networks include CNN's Friday firing of Jon Klein as president of its U.S. network, replacing him with Ken Jautz, and Walt Disney Co.'s announcement three weeks ago that David Weston, head of ABC News would leave at the end of the year.
For more:
- see this WSJ article