Mediaweek
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts on Wednesday expressed his frustration with NBC’s late-night imbroglio, telling a Washington, D.C., audience that his company was effectively sidelined during the Leno-Conan meltdown.
“It is what it is. It’s a frustrating period because we are unable to be legally involved,” Roberts said, before going on to add that there are “many good things happening at NBC Universal.”
Speaking at a Congressional Internet Caucus event, Roberts noted that Comcast cannot intervene in NBCs day-to-day business operations until the deal actually closes; as such, the company was forced to stand silent as NBC brought its 10 p.m. Leno experiment to a close.
Returning Leno to The Tonight Show came at the cost of a $45 million payout to Conan OBrien, who last week elected to leave NBC rather than accept a 12:05 a.m. post. More…