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Fox Discusses Possible O'Brien Deal

Los Angeles Times, Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:24 AM

Fox Broadcasting is closer to bringing Conan O'Brien back to late night. Key Fox executives, including Rupert Murdoch, are on board with the plan and would like to finalize a deal in coming weeks so they can make a splash on May 17 when the network unveils its fall lineup. But several significant issues remain, like cost. NBC spent close to $90 million a year to produce the show, which included O'Brien's salary of more than $12 million a year. Fox wants to spend less than $60 million annually.

Fox, owned by Murdoch's News Corp., has had its eye on entering the late-night talk show wars for years. Indeed, it was Fox's overtures to O'Brien nine years ago that prompted NBC's Jeff Zucker to promise O'Brien "The Tonight Show." Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly and Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice have been leading the campaign to bring O'Brien to Fox. No decision on whether the show would launch in the fall or January.

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