Ken Schanzer was named President of NBC Sports
yesterday by Dick Ebersol, who has served in the position
since '89. In March, Ebersol was named Chair of NBC's new
Olympic division, and his title will now expand to include
all of NBC Sports. Schanzer has been Exec VP of NBC Sports
since '95, and in his new role he will oversee the sports
division's initiatives in programming, finance, engineering
and operations, negotiations and acquisitions, and
promotion. Schanzer and Exec Producer Tom Roy will continue
to report to Ebersol (NBC Sports). In N.Y., Kyle Pope
reports that Ebersol will now run NBC's Olympic division and
"its expected launch" of a new football league with Turner
Broadcasting. Ebersol said the corporate realignment is
"not a marriage arrived at by corporate fathers. The idea
was totally generated by me." Schanzer said that he has "no
plans for any immediate changes" in the sports division
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/19). Ebersol: "What this means for
me is I have an opportunity to give someone I consider my
best friend something he's deserved for a long time" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 6/19). In L.A., Stephen Battaglio reports that
Schanzer "played a key role" in NBC's recent contract
extension with the NBA, and "is also credited" with
orchestrating the net's deal with Notre Dame to broadcast
the school's home football games (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/19).