John Eck, a widely experienced NBC Universal vet of 14 years, has been promoted to NBC TV Network and Media Works president. It’s an expanded role that adds affiliate relations and network operations to the responsibilities he has had for two years as president of media works and chief information officer of NBC Universal, overseeing information technology, studio operations, film, TV production and post- production operations.

His newly added turf was previously overseen by Jay Ireland, the president of NBC Universal Television Stations and network operations, who recently returned to parent company General Electric as president and CEO of GE Asset Management.

John Wallace last week was named president of NBC’s 10 English-language stations group. Still to be addressed is the reporting structure of the Spanish-language stations Mr. Ireland also oversaw.

Mr. Eck’s new responsibilities include overseeing the NBC Television Network’s relationship with its more than 200 affiliate partners, and for creating and supervising program formats, developing on-air contingency plans for live events, and managing on-air broadcasting among network, affiliates and advertising partners. Mr. Eck will also work alongside NBC Universal General Counsel Rick Cotton in representing NBC with the National Association of Broadcasters.

“John is a skilled and experienced television executive who has been a key part of our leadership team for more than a decade,” NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker, to whom Mr. Eck will continue to report, said in Tuesday’s announcement. “He’s been responsible for operational advancements that have been crucial to our success.”

When Mr. Eck was named president of media works and chief information officer of NBC Universal in July 2005, it was in conjunction with the merger of information technology and the television and studio operations group that is the largest such operation in North American. He also oversees sourcing, environmental health and safety, crisis management, and a multimillion-square-foot real estate and facilities portfolio, which includes Rockefeller Center, Burbank and Universal City, California.

Mr. Eck created the technology growth center (which supports digital media), the company’s content protection and policy efforts, and NBCU’s research and development activities in conjunction with GE's Global Research Center. Prior to this, Eck was president of television and studio operations.

In 2004, Mr. Eck led the integration process of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment into NBC Universal and played a key role in NBC’s due diligence efforts prior to the close of the deal.

His other roles have included seven years as president of NBC broadcast and network operations, serving as senior VP and quality leader and chief financial officer for NBC international and business development. He joined NBC in 1993 as VP of financial planning and analysis after having spent two years as chairman of a primary working group of the Media Security and Reliability Council, which was formed by then-FCC Commissioner Michael Powell following the events of September 11, 2001.

(Editor: Romanelli)