December 10, 2009

CableFAX: 45. Shake and Bake: Ted Harbert and Jeff Shell

Ted Harbert

Title: President/CEO, Comcast Entertainment Group
Age: Roseanne ÷ Kim Kardashian x 3.141
Education: Boston U
Social Media Quotient: 2

Jeff Shell
Title: President, Comcast Programming Group
Age: 44
Education: BS, UC Berkeley; MBA, Harvard; PHD, Comcast University
Social Media Quotient: 2

Why Them? As an ode to Talladega Nights, we’re pegging this duo "Shake and Bake" for no reason other than that they make a good team. Under Harbert, E!, Style and G4 delivered their most-watched years in ’08 — the fourth year in a row — and he’s attracted talent like Ryan Seacrest, Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler. Overseeing Comcast’s national content networks and investments, Shell has been integral in pushing the nets toward multiplatform and new HD content.

Peacock’s Nest: As the Comcast-NBCU deal proceeds, Harbert and Shell could see their jobs evolve. Comcast would be smart to keep them as engaged as possible in all its new content assets.

Year Ahead:

Just too much uncertainty surrounding the Comcast-NBCU deal to make predictions.

Harbert

Drink of Choice: Vodka Meltdown (2 parts Grey Goose, 1 part D Zero)

Trait I Most Admire in People: Sense of humor and ego in check.

Childhood Hero: Jeff Shell [Editor’s Note: What foresight!]

I Wish My Kids Would: Watch an actual television set.

Fave Non-E! Show: Friday Night Lights