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It’s the well-liked Rick Olshansky, head of all business affairs for the NBCU TV studio and network and who reported to Marc Graboff. Not anymore. They let Olshansky go yesterday even though a long time was left on his contract. “He’s a really good guy who basically just got a bullet to the head,” one TV source tells me. “You can call this the first casualty of the Comcast-GE-NBCU deal.”
Meanwhile, Broadcasting & Cable is reporting tonight that Madison Avenue is “buzzing” that long-serving Comcast ad sales executive Dave Cassaro is widely expected to be put in charge of all TV ad sales once the Comcast-GE-NBCU deal is completed.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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the first casualty needs to be zucker. if anyone saw the puff piece in today’s new york times, it made the point how the cable channels are profitable. any dope can make a basic cable channel profitable given that you’re collecting subscription fees and ad fees.
he needs to be judged on the non-results of nbc and nothing more
Hard to believe that this has anything to do with Comcast-GE-NBCU. An underling to Graboff for one division? Would think the merger would have bigger things to worry about. In truth – Olshansky was a jerk. Assumed anyone creative was dumb, made waves when they weren’t necessary. It’s hard enough being a tough negotiator and keeping friends, but Olshansky made too many enemies inside and out just for the sake of his ego when the situation didn’t call for it. Never thought outside of the box either.
Rick is well-liked & will be missed. That said, he’s doing just fine. Had 3 years or so on his contract….do the math.
I still don’t think this has to do anything with Comcast. Too quick & too random. If Comcast really wants to signal a change around NBCU, get rid of Zucker. No one within the company likes or respects him. Time for a change.
Interesting. Everyone is a good guy after they take a bullet. when they are alive and well they are schmucks.
Thank you.
And Zucker is still in his job?
Does he have blackmail photos of every CEO in the country, or does he use some sort of black magic?
Will Jeff Zucker be the next casualty as time rolls along with this deal?
There were other layoffs at NBC West Coast yesterday as well. I was one of them. I have heard as many as 500 company-wide but have not confirmed.
I was laid off this week as well. Just like last year, they did it just in time to ruin the holiday! Thanks GE/NBCU, love how you reward hard work and loyalty with long time employees. Truthfully, I won’t miss you, but I will miss all the great people I have worked with over the years. I consider many of them to be family.