ESPN VP/Original Programming & Production JAMIE HOROWITZ has been "approached by NBC to take control" of "Today," and a deal "appears likely, though Horowitz still has to extract himself from his contract with ESPN," according to sources cited by Tommy Craggs of DEADSPIN. A source said ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER is "trying to coax a sizable ransom" out of NBC parent company Comcast. The source "put the chances of the deal going through at '70-30 or 65-35.'" Craggs reported it is "not clear what Horowitz's new position would be." "Today" Exec Producer DON NASH reportedly "would stay on" and Horowitz "would oversee him." Horowitz "got his start at NBC Sports, working as a researcher for the 2000 Olympics and quickly making his way into the producer's chair" before moving to ESPN in '06. Horowitz' work at ESPN includes "SportsNation," "Numbers Never Lie" and "Olbermann," and he was "the man responsible for the 2011 overhaul" of "First Take" (DEADSPIN.com, 1/27). THE BIG LEAD's Jason McIntyre reported a decision is "expected this week" on the move. Horowitz' potential departure "sent shockwaves through ESPN, where he is regarded as one of the brightest TV minds at the network" and part of Skipper's "inner circle" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 1/27).
