MEDIA

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NBC PRESIDENT COURTS JON STEWART

BROADCASTING & CABLE - NBC Universal President - Chief Executive Jeff
Zucker and NBC Entertainment -Universal Media Studios Co-Chair Marc
Graboff recently wined and dined [Jon Stewart] and his agent, James
Dixon. According to a network source, Zucker and Graboff didn't focus on
pitching any specific role at the dinner meeting. "They just made their
interest known in finding a way to do business together if Jon was ever
available," says the source, who categorized the talks as
"exploratory.". . . Stewart's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is a
franchise at Comedy Central, and Stewart's deal is up in 2008. Although
Comedy Central has had its eye on off-net sitcoms such as The Office, as
well as continuing its slew of originals, it is watching costs in part
to have the resources to keep Stewart. . . If Stewart were to jump to a
network in late night, he has been said to covet David Letterman's chair
on CBS.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452696.html

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