• by Wayne Friedman , January 12, 2010

 

As it verges on taking control of NBC Universal, one of Comcast's senior programming executives will continue on for many years.

Ted Harbert, president and CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group, has extended his current deal for five years to run the company's West Coast entertainment properties through 2016.

He will continue to oversee Comcast Entertainment networks: E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network, G4, Comcast International Media Group and Comcast Entertainment Productions.

Jeff Shell, president of Comcast's Programming Group, stated: "Ted has guided each of our entertainment brands to record-breaking growth in ratings and revenue over the past five years."

Comcast's proposed purchase of a controlling stake of NBC caused some speculation in press reports concerning the role Harbert might play with NBC television networks -- especially in his current position as the head of Comcast's entertainment channels.

In his earlier professional life, Harbert was president of NBC Studios, with responsibility for the development and production of all NBC-owned programming for all dayparts. Before that, for the first two decades of its career, he was with ABC, rising to chairman of ABC Entertainment.

Harbert first joined E! Networks in summer 2004 as president, E! Entertainment Television. In 2006, he was named president and CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group.