NBCU’s Zucker Utters ‘R’ Word
January 23, 2008 1:32 PM
According to today’s New York Times, NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Zucker said, “It’s clear we are in a recession in the United States, and we’re going to have to manage our business accordingly.”
That means the meltdown in the economy, coupled with the ongoing writers strike, are two factors pushing the network to drastically cut the number of pilots it generally orders, in the hope of saving $50 million a year.
Instead, the company announced it had agreed to buy a 26% stake in New Delhi Television of India. According to the New York Times, that stake is worth about $150 million.
So while economists now are talking about the “uncoupling” of the global markets, NBCU plans to grow through international expansion.
Question of the day: Does anyone believe that we are not in a recession?
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Comments (12)
No, Marianne, we're not in a recession. And there's no civil war in Iraq. And there's nothing un-American about how the US is treating prisoners in its military prisons. And the CIA would never destroy tapes. Any other questions?
Posted by Seth Arenstein | January 23, 2008 1:54 PM
Seth,
You forgot Santa Claus and Goldilocks:}
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | January 23, 2008 2:02 PM
Yes, we are in a recession. No question about it. Thanks BUSH - yet one more problem that Americans will have to correct once you leave office. What a legacy!
Posted by Anon | January 25, 2008 10:02 AM
Anon,
Technically we are not, you know the two consecutive quarters of downward spirals on several fronts.
I think that old model is a pile of dung. We need new yardsticks of the "R" word.
Any ideas, anyone?
Thanks for your posting,
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | January 25, 2008 10:30 AM
Let's ask Oprah Winfrey.
She knows everything.
Posted by Cory O'Connor | January 25, 2008 1:06 PM
If we're lucky she's in Davos, giving advice to the world's so called economic leaders:}
Did you see Obama on Letterman last night doing his top 10 list? Number one was Obama calling for Obama/Winfrey on the Dem ticket:}
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | January 25, 2008 1:23 PM
The idea of a Obama/Oprah ticket is getting noise.
O & O?
Uh-Oh!
On Wednesday my pastor said he saw Obama on TV at a campaign rally where he asked the crowd what they thought of Vice President Winfrey?
She's going to have to OWN up to a lot of questions about OWN and Oxygen for that to happen, and she's on very thin ethical ice there.
It'll be fun to watch, though.
Posted by Cory O'Connor | January 25, 2008 1:33 PM
You never know, although Oprah doesn't have a chance and why would she give up all that money to become a second banana?
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | January 25, 2008 2:04 PM
Because eight years down the road she's banana numero uno.
Posted by Cory O'Connor | January 25, 2008 2:07 PM
The NYT backed Hillary today, for the Dem bet and McCain for the GOP.
I love Oprah, no experience, but like I said, she could teach a lot of people a lot of stuff about making money, voters' number one concern. Her ego would never put herself in that position.
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | January 25, 2008 2:26 PM
NBC/U buying a 26% stake in a TV network in India? I can just see another "Law & Order" spinoff for Dick Wolf...a cynical cop like Lennie Briscoe(god rest the wonderful Jerry Orbach), possibly played by the guy who played "Kumar" in the "Harold & Kumar" movies, and maybe the guy who played "Bug" on "Crossing Jordan" paired up to investigate crime in New Delhi. Sounds like a winner to me.
Posted by Jeff | February 11, 2008 5:09 AM
Jeff,
Yep, straight from the mouth of Zucker. Guess NBC wants a part of Bollywood
Marianne
Posted by Marianne Paskowski | February 11, 2008 6:18 AM