Leno to leave prime-time
PASADENA, Calif (AP) ó NBC decided to end the Jay Leno experiment when some of its affiliates started talking about dropping the nightly prime-time show, its top entertainment executive said Sunday.
NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin said Sunday that Lenoís nightly prime-time show will end with the beginning of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 12. NBC wants Leno to do an 11:35 p.m. show each night, a return to his old time slot, Gaspin said.
Gaspin said despite lower ratings for NBC at 10 p.m. compared with last year, the network was making money off the show.
But affiliates were upset that the show was leading fewer viewers into their late news programs, costing them significant advertising revenue. Some affiliates told NBC in December they would go public soon about their complaints if a change wasnít made, or even take Lenoís show off the air.
ìThe drumbeat started getting louder,î Gaspin said.
Gaspin has proposed moving Conan OíBrienís ìTonightî show to 12:05 a.m., and Jimmy Fallonís show would start an hour later. But the late-night hosts had not agreed to the move. Gaspin said he expected NBCís late-night situation to be cleared up by the start of the Olympics.
Asked if OíBrien and Fallon expressed anger at his proposal, Gaspin said both men were professional and understanding when they talked.
ìBeyond that, it was a private conversation,î Gaspin said.
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