NBC shrinking primetime by one hour

This seems crazy. Abandoning the 10pm hour during the week and filling it with Jay Leno. Really, this seems like a good idea? [Link]

Broadcasting & Cable, The New York Times and others are reporting that NBC will give Jay Leno its 10-11pm time-slot every weeknight beginning next fall.

From B&C:

In a surprise move, Jay Leno is taking over the 10 p.m. slot on weeknights on the network.

The move would be a cost-effective manner in which to essentially cut down the amount of hours it must program with fare from the entertainment division. Jeff Zucker foreshadowed the move at a UBS media conference Monday, saying that NBC has to look at options including programming less primetime hours.

It would be a much-needed victory for struggling NBC in the wake of a massive round of layoffs and a re-organization of the entire way the network and studio are structured as the network continues to languish in fourth place.

And this is funny. [Link]

It’s already been brought up in the comments - but at a conference today, Jeff Zucker spoke on the possibility that NBC might program less hours (and possibly days) per week in primetime.

“Can we continue to broadcast 22 hours in primetime? Three of our competitors don’t,” Zucker said during Monday’s keynote at the annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. “Can we continue to broadcast seven days a week? One of our competitors doesn’t.”

Zucker also said:

“It’s not giving up. It’s not retrenching. It’s not throwing in the towel.”

If you’re comparing yourself to a mini-network like the CW and doing so with a straight face there are only two possibilities:

1. You’re high as a kite
2. You’re giving up and throwing in the towel