If not in the news then be on the news, you know? Next week the television’s first family, the Kardashians, are taking their first swing at primetime, Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner, Khloe, Kourtney and of course Kim each having a turn as Hoda Kotb‘s <em>Today</em> co-host. Whether or not they should be being no matter, the Kardashians can really do anything!

NBC’s Richard Engel recently filed a harrowing report from the front line of the military conflict in Libya in which an incoming mortar shell landed just 50 yards away from where he was reporting. Last night Jon Stewart was dutifully impressed by Engel’s journalistic bravado before taking an interesting and unexpected turn in a segment which focused on GE’s unique relationship NBC News’ parent company NBC-Universal.

Ok, that headline’s a tad bit hyperbolic, but the peacock definitely got downgraded. The Los Angeles Times have a look at NBC Universal’s new corporate logo brought in by the new overlords at Comcast and the peacock is no where to be seen. He’ll still get be used to market the NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC, he just won’t be invited into any board rooms. Huh. I wonder if the bird will be creating a Twitter account.

The Federal Communications Commission has today announced that is has approved Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal, giving Comcast control over NBC Universal’s vast library of movies and television programs after the FCC determined that the joint venture would be “in the nation’s public interest.”

On the cusp of the largest corporate TV merger in American history, the FCC is beginning to express concerns that a monopoly on such an extensive library could hamper the free flow of information. The AP reports today that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is seeking new conditions from NBC and Comcast before allowing their merger that would specifically protect online content and mandate arbitration.

As NBC Universal nears the conclusion of its acquisition by Comcast, lifelong NBC employee and departing CEO Jeff Zucker may be headed not to another media gig, but into a slot at a private equity group.

As The Wall Street Journal reports this morning, Zucker says he hasn’t finalized his next step, but has been approached by private equity firms–though he hasn’t ruled out a whole host of other options, including a return to news, going into digital media, or even politics:

Bill Carter at the NY Times is reporting that Jeff Zucker is leaving NBC Universal, where he has been serving as Chief Executive for the better part of the last decade.

Seems like it was year’s ago that the nation was breathlessly waiting for resolution to NBC’s late night line-up drama, that unfolded in a wonderfully entertaining way. Not only did a healthy debate emerge, but there is still a reasonable and ongoing discussion on who were the winners and losers of the whole affair. But no one took it on the chin harder than NBC chief Jeff Zucker, who was pretty much railed for what was fairly seen as his responsibility. But as great a story as that was, it obfuscated a larger narrative about the head of NBC-Universal: he’s had an uncanny knack for nurturing very successful cable channels that have kept his company relatively strong and vibrant.

Last February, Jeff Zucker, the president and CEO of NBC Universal was on Joe Scarborough’s radio show and made an offhand comment about running for office one day. Although much speculation was made in the press about it at the time, it wasn’t until this week that Washington Post columnist Howard Kurtz decided to quiz him about it. Zucker confirmed the earlier suggestions; he may run for office in New York one day.

Nikki Finke is reporting that Lauren Zalaznick, the President of NBC Universal’s Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, is in “advanced talks” to take over as MTV President of Entertainment, a job recently vacated by departing Brian Graden. If true, why would she leave the string of successes at Bravo to go to the flailing catastrophe that is now MTV Networks? Perhaps because, right now, Bravo couldn’t get be any hotter, and MTV is nearly at rock bottom. A perfect opportunity to add to Zalaznick’s nearly legendary track record.

The sale of NBC Universal from General Electric Co to Comcast Corp, which Comcast hoped to complete almost a month ago, looks like it’s actually happening this time. According to the New York Times‘ Michael J. de la Merced, Bill Carter, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, GE reached a tentative agreement to buy Vivendi SA’s 20 percent stake in NBC, ending a stalemate that held up the GE-Comcast deal:

The New York Times is reporting that Comcast Corp and General Electric Co are closer to a deal to give Comcast a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal and that a formal announcement may be made in the coming week. Mediaite has learned from an industry source familiar with the negotiations that Comcast will in fact be formally announcing its acquisition of NBC Universal this week.

Many unanswered questions are circulating about the fate of Time Inc, the magazine division of Time Warner. Today AOL blog DailyFinance is reporting that Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes has said, “Time Inc. is not for sale.” But is the company’s CEO really the most reliable source when it comes to potential business dealings? And on a blog that he owns?