With NBC News president Andy Lack fighting battles on multiple fronts, and with ABC hotshot Ben Sherwood officially leaving his network — media insiders have been widely speculating that Sherwood could swoop in on Lack’s job at any moment.
But sources in Sherwood’s camp insist that he is absolutely not interested in going to NBC after ABC’s Fox deal closes.
On Saturday, it was revealed that Sherwood — president of Disney-ABC Television Group — would exit after Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox is complete. But weeks before the announcement, Page Six’s phones were ringing off the hook with multiple sources suggesting that Sherwood would be heading to 30 Rock just as Lack was being bundled out the back door.
We were told on Monday that, despite the rumor mill, Sherwood’s still considering his options — but won’t be taking Lack’s desk.
Meanwhile, NBC’s parent company, Comcast, continues to claim that it’s sticking doggedly by Lack, in spite of the network’s growing list of scandals and calamities under his reign.
As Page Six reported, TV insiders said that Comcast execs have “grown tired” of the brouhahas surrounding Lack: He mishandled “Access Hollywood’s” “Grab ’em by the p - - sy” tape, Ronan Farrow’s mothballed Harvey Weinstein investigation, Matt Lauer’s ignominious ouster and the — thus far — catastrophic hiring of Megyn Kelly.
But after the Daily Beast posted a weekend story claiming Lack didn’t act on allegations of sexual misconduct while he was at Sony BMG, NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said: “Andy has my complete support. We have worked together closely for over three years, during which I have watched Andy oversee NBC News with great integrity, sound judgment and a focus on doing what’s right. I look forward to continuing to work with Andy and to his continued success as the leader of NBC News.”