Valleywag: Jeff Zucker

Apple adds HBO to iTunes, but only by caving on pricing

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:40:00 PDT

As a a part of a deal to bring HBO shows to the iTunes store, Apple will allow a content producer to break its $1.99-per-show price structure for the first time, HBO employees involved in the deal told Portfolio. Last summer, Apple CEO Steve Jobs refused to allow NBC to do the same, so NBC boss Jeff Zucker took his shows elsewhere — to Microsoft and the Zune, specifically. Why did HBO get the deal while NBC didn't?

Scarcity. Viewers can access NBC for free from their TVs, NBC.com, Hulu.com, and, oddly enough, from their iPhones. Other than an ongoing trial in Wisconsin, HBO shows aren't available on the Web and viewers even have to pay to see them on their televisions. And isn't the difference between NBC's Crime Scene and HBO's The Wire worth paying extra for?

Lonely Zune owner reaches out on Craigslist

Jackson West — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:40:00 PDT

While in the strictly platonic section of Craigslist, this anonymous Angeleno writes in a tone more suited to casual encounters, what with the desire to "rocket sweet tracks up each other's Zune slots" and the need for "a hearty and steadfast product." I'm willing to bet my Shuffle against your Zune the author is NBC's Jeff Zucker, and that he wasn't being ironic.

Jeff Zucker's Zune revenge

Owen Thomas — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:00:00 PDT

Having dropped Apple's iTunes store in a dispute over pricing, NBC Universal will soon start selling downloads of TV shows like The Office and 30 Rock for its Zune media player. If NBC chief Jeff Zucker manages to scrape some sales out of Microsoft's handheld also-ran, it will be a miracle — and the surest proof yet that content, not hardware, is king. Don't hold your breath. Microsoft's Zune has always seemed like a parody of Apple's iPod. Want to buy songs? Well, first you buy "points" from Microsoft, which you can then exchange for music at some bizarre exchange rate. Nothing about its user interface seems quite right compared to Apple's polish. The system for TV shows is no better. Though Microsoft also makes the Xbox, shows downloaded to a Zune won't play on the videogame console unless you're adept at fiddling with cables. By going with Microsoft, Zucker is betting that technology doesn't matter, design doesn't matter, and market share doesn't matter. He must really believe in his prime-time lineup. (Photo via Fake Steve Ballmer)

NBC's Zucker explains why he thought he could push Steve Jobs around

Nicholas Carlson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:30:09 PST

NBC Universal head Jeff Zucker told a hall full of future Harvard MBAs yesterday that Steve Jobs booted NBC television from the iTunes store last summer because Zucker merely asked to experiment with show pricing. In fact, Zucker went on, NBC Universal films are now a part of the iTunes movie store only because Jobs bowed to NBC's demand for variable pricing. It's a convenient narrative, but not what actually happened.

Truth is, last summer, Zucker not only asked to set pricing, he demanded that Apple share some of its hardware revenues. Jobs said no. Zucker's subsequent public statements suggest the fact that this rebuff actually surprised him. Now we know why. Yesterday, Zucker told the students at Harvard that before its dismissal, NBC shows led the iTunes video market with 35 percent share. In the metaphorical physics of most businesses, that's called leverage. In Cupertino, that's not enough to let you touch Steve's iPhone.

NBC CEO Jeff Zucker puckers up to Steve Jobs's posterior

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:45:38 PST

"We've said all along that we admire Apple, that we want to be in business with Apple," NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker said in the Financial Times this morning. Of course you have, Jeff. Except for maybe that time last fall when you told an audience at Syracuse University that "Apple has destroyed the music business ... If we don't take control on the video side, they'll do the same [there]." What does Zucker's pirouette mean?

Two things. One, fanboys might be drooling over the MacBook Air Steve Jobs announced last week, but studio bosses like those at Zucker's Universal are more excited about movie rentals on the remodeled Apple TV. And two, entrepreneurs seeking quick cash might consider taking on Zucker in a game of Texas Hold 'em.

New Apple board member the right woman for job

Tim Faulkner — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:33:38 PST

Steve Jobs has quieted one long-running concern of unhappy Apple shareholders by naming Avon CEO Andrea Jung to the male-dominated board of the Cupertino-based computer maker. Jung will be the board's first female member in nearly 11 years. The addition likely has nothing to do with appeasing feminists, however, and everything to do with Jung's business connections. She also serves on the board of GE, the parent of NBC Universal. Apple's media strategy has been hindered by a feud between NBC's Jeff Zucker and Jobs over selling TV shows online. Jung will likely have to recuse herself from any direct dealings. But as a behind-the-scenes peacemaker? She's perfectly made up. (Photo by Avon)

Methinks NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker ought ...

Jordan Golson — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:13:28 PDT

Methinks NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker ought to worry a little more about getting more viewers for his little TV network than about squeezing more money out of Apple. NBC ranked fourth in the ratings last week, stomped by Dancing with the Stars and my Red Sox winning the World Series. [AP]

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker again denied ...

Jordan Golson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:37:21 PDT

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker again denied rumors of a possible sale of the company by parent General Electric. Zucker noted that GE chief Jeff Immelt "has said numerous times that NBCU is not for sale." Sort of like NBC's new fall season on iTunes. [Reuters]

NBC sought cut from iPod sales

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:35:42 PDT

You'll recall NBC's noisy departure from Apple's iTunes store in August. First we heard the problem was that NBC had asked Apple to raise per-episode prices to $2.99. Then, we heard Apple advocated cutting prices to 99 cents a show, arguing that volume would make up for lost profits. Now, NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker reveals he misplayed the negotiations even more than we could have imagined. He asked for a piece of Apple's iPod hardware sales.

"Apple sold millions of dollars worth of hardware off the back of our content and made a lot of money," Zucker is reported to have told The New Yorker's Ken Auletta at a benefit for Syracuse University. "They did not want to share in what they were making off the hardware or allow us to adjust pricing."

Certainly Zucker knew he was going to kill negotiations when he came up with that one. It's likely he meant to, considering Zucker also said NBC only saw $15 million in revenue in last year on iTunes. NBC also probably felt it had Hulu, its online-video joint venture, to fall back on.

But still, asking Steve Jobs for a piece of his precious iPod sales? How do you think Jobs responded to that?

"Apple has destroyed the music business... ...

Jordan Golson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:34:54 PDT

"Apple has destroyed the music business... If we don't take control on the video side, they'll do the same [there]." NBC Universal Chief Jeff Zucker. Sure. If by "destroyed," you mean "saved from complete irrelevance." [JupiterResearch]

NBC had to yank a "Saturday Night Live" video ...

Mary Jane Irwin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:31:36 PDT

NBC had to yank a "Saturday Night Live" video off YouTube after it failed to license a sample from Aphex Twin. This happens a mere week after NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker ranted to Congress that the government needed to focus more on copyright infringement. [Techdirt]