NBC prez Zucker: Actors strike would be "devastating"

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080408/FREE/611397834/1040

NBC prez says the recently ended writers strike hurt Hollywood and a threatened follow-up could cause worse damage. Also: Hulu sells out its inventory.
April 08. 2008 11:55AMBy: Ira Teinowitz, AdAge.com

NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker delivered a dire warning this week about the potential impact of an actors strike, saying it could be "incredibly devastating" on network TV.

Speaking at the International Advertising Association's 41st annual World Congress in Washington, Mr. Zucker said the recently ended strike by movie and television writers hurt Hollywood, the state of California and the entire TV industry. A follow-up strike by actors, he said, could cause real economic damage.

"If we go through that again, I severely question both the economy, given the state of the economy we are already in, and the future on the broadcast side," he said. "The fact is I don't think it would have an impact on the film business. Our film business has prepared. But it would have a real impact on the TV business, and I don't think the economy or the TV business would be able to survive something like that."

Mr. Zucker's comments came as part of a wide ranging conversation with Michael Kassan, principal of Media Link, during the event.

Traffic on Hulu.com, the site created by News Corp. and NBC Universal to offer network TV content that went live several weeks ago, has sold out its advertising inventory, Mr. Zucker said, though more ad opportunities are being created.

He said advertisers are interested in the site because they have more assurance of the content they are getting. "Advertisers want to be on something where you know what you get and not on something where you could be advertising a cat on a skateboard," he said, a clear jab at video-sharing websites such as YouTube.


FULL story at link.