NBC shakes things up

General Electric's (NYSE: GE) management keeps saying that it wants to keep NBC Universal, but then it keeps up a game of management musical chairs that has to make Wall Street wonder.

First, Bob Wright, longtime head of the unit, was shown the door in favor of his number two, Jeff Zucker. The excuse was that Zucker was more in tune with the online world. Perhaps that was because Wright was too old.

Now, NBC is replacing it programming chief, who was just given a new contract a few short months ago. Kevin Reilly, who runs programming now, is on his way. He found out that Zucker was looking for a replacement. It would appear that Zucker is a bit mercurial given that Reilly's new contract is only three months old. It would also seem that he is a bit deceptive, looking for a replacement instead of just telling Mr. Reilly that his time was up.

The plan now is to replace Mr. Reilly with an outsider, Ben Silverman, producer of the popular show "The Office". It should be encouraging to NBC programming management that no one inside was considered.

The whole affair must be a little upsetting for GE management, which usually likes to take a "go slow" approach. Mr. Zucker comes across as indecisive. Makes one wonder why Mr. Wright is gone.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.