Bell has a degree in political science and government from HarvardGETTY IMAGES
Former NBC Olympics President of Production & Programming JIM BELL is "in talks to join a 2020 presidential campaign," according to Nathan & Smith of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that Bell, a 29-year NBC veteran, has been "talking to Democratic hopefuls" about a role creating media content and messaging. Bell has a degree in political science and government from Harvard (N.Y. POST, 11/5). In L.A., Stephen Battaglio notes Bell also "had a seven-year run" as executive producer of NBC's "TODAY" from '05-12, during MATT LAUER's tenure as co-anchor. According to three execs at NBC, there are "no indications Bell's departure is related to the company's issues with Lauer," who was fired in '17 for sexual misconduct (L.A. TIMES, 11/5).
WHO'S STEPPING IN? The Tokyo Games are only nine months away and nobody knows who will replace Bell. Traditionally, the Olympics has operated as its own island at NBC, overseen by Bell and NBC Olympics & Business President GARY ZENKEL. A likely scenario would have Exec Producer SAM FLOOD expand his responsibilities to include the Olympics -- a move that would put all of NBC Sports Group’s content under one roof. If Flood is tapped to be Bell’s replacement -- a big if; remember that NBCU Broadcast, Cable, Sports & News Chair MARK LAZARUS and Sports Group President PETE BEVACQUA say they haven’t made a decision -- Flood still would need to bring someone on to run the day-to-day operations of the Olympics. Given the complexity of producing the event, that almost certainly would involve internal promotion. NBC’s has several strong execs who could fit that role, including Senior VP/Olympic Production JOE GESUE and Senior VP/Original Productions & Creative MARK LEVY (John Ourand, SBJ Media).
