NBC arch defends role in late-night debacle

LOS ANGELES – The NBC controlling who has overseen the network's abatement in contempo years said on Monday he showed "guts" and "leadership" by afraid up the network's late-night programing -- a adverse move that will acceptable accelerate talk-show host Conan O'Brien to a battling broadcaster.

Jeff Zucker, the admiral and CEO of General Electric Co's NBC Universal ball unit, told PBS television accuser Charlie Rose on Monday it was his job to booty affairs if he capital to lift NBC out of the ratings mire.

"They don't all assignment out," Zucker said, according to a appearance transcript. "Nothing tried, annihilation gained."

NBC's accommodation to cossack ratings champ Jay Leno out of his "Tonight Show" branch and accord the coveted 11:35 p.m. aperture to "Late Night" host O'Brien set off a adverse alternation of contest that has placed NBC administration absolutely in the crosshairs of the TV accessible and pundits.

An black Leno was relegated to a five-night-a-week array appearance at 10 p.m., a boycott to the producers of authority dramas that commonly air in that slot. His ratings sank as anon as the appearance debuted in September, abashing bounded affiliates because it afflicted viewership of their 11 p.m. newscasts. O'Brien's ratings additionally tanked.

NBC appear on January 10 it was abandoning Leno's appearance and abiding him to the 11:35 p.m. slot. An affronted O'Brien banned to move "The Tonight Show" aback by 30 account and is negotiating an avenue that could amount NBC added than $30 million.

Paradoxically, Zucker's anarchy was advised both to accumulate O'Brien at NBC and to save money.

"Obviously, in hindsight, you know, absolute advice leads you to that cessation -- that it was a mistake," Zucker told Rose. "And I anticipate it's the assurance of a baton to footfall up and say, you know, back something's not working, to accept the audacity to about-face it."

"Leadership is about demography affairs and demography risks. And also, administration is about acknowledging back they don't work."

Zucker has fatigued abiding blaze for years because NBC has struggled beneath his leadership.

The above breakfast-show ambassador took allegation of NBC's ball programing in 2000 and was answer to his accepted column in 2007. In all that time, NBC has bootless to advance a hit affiliated to "Seinfeld" or "Friends" or "ER."

When Rose broached the affair of Zucker eventually actuality fired, Zucker said he was actual appreciative of his assignment at NBC.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; alteration by Todd Eastham)