The news guys take over NBC

NBC News president Andrew Lack was given the newly created post of president and COO of NBC on Tuesday. An announcement from the network said that Lack will have oversight of the entertainment division (headed by former news producer Jeff Zucker), news, the NBC cable operations (including MSNBC and CNBC), sales and affiliate relations, and general operations. NBC CEO Bob Wright will be given the additional title of chairman of NBC but is expected to expand his role at parent GE. Wednesday’s New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that Dateline NBC exec producer Neal Shapiro (who is often heard remarking, “Good job, everyone” at the end of the Dateline telecasts) is expected to succeed Lack as head of the news division. In an interview with the Times, Lack, whose contract with the network was due to expire at the end of the year, indicated that he had recently been wooed by other companies. Asked whether he was tempted to accept any of the offers, he replied, “I was flattered.” He added: “I did have a feeling that I had done maybe as well as I probably could in this role.” An unnamed colleague told the online media magazine Inside, “He [Lack] had been very close to leaving and was considering a number of opportunities.” Inside said that among Lack‘s suitors were Sony Pictures Entertainment and AOL Time Warner.