Dick Ebersol Out at NBC

'Resigns' after he and NBC fail to agree to new contract.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/sports/dick-ebersol-resigns-from-nbc-sports.html

 

This sounds so incredibly similar to Gus Johnson failing to reach contract terms with CBS and then leaving for Fox. Does Murdoch have someone in charge of the Big 12/Pac-12 college football package yet?

 

Is someone going to hire a 64-year-old for anywhere near the price tag that NBC was surely offering Ebersol?

That's the difference, to me. Gus Johnson was significantly more desirable on the open market, I'd think.

 

Ebersol doesn't need the money. He'll start a production company or do consulting or whatever he wants to do.

 

NBC now officially "the Dick-less network."

 

I didn't realize Gus Johnson had left CBS. He's a terrific play by play guy. Perfect for college hoops.

 

Certainly has to raise ESPN's hopes for getting the Olympics.

 

NBC Sports is irrelevant. Their weekend lineup is a disaster of figure skating, gymnastics, Dew Tour, and other trash sports, except for Notre Dame football, which lately has also qualified as a trash sport, or the occasional golf tournament. I really thought they'd make a bigger play for the Pac-12 TV contract and thus acquire some relevant programming.

 

Would Ebersol leaving (contract notwithstanding) have anything to do with the NBC/Comcast mega merger deal?

 

Good. I thought he acted like a classless dick during the Conan-Leno deal.

 

He will wind up at ESPN or Fox, whichever one gets the Olympic TV rights.

 

This is just part of the overall (and much needed) purge of NBC by Comcast following the merger. Comcast has its own sports people. They don't need Ebersol.