{{Short description|American businessman (born 1955)}} {{Infobox person | name = Ted Harbert | image = Ted Harbert.jpg | caption = Harbert and Chelsea Handler at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards afterparty held at the Beverly HIlton Hotel in Los Angeles | birth_name = Edward W. Harbert III | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|06|15|mf=yes}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, US | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Boston University | occupation = Broadcasting and television executive | years_active = 1973–present | partner = Chelsea Handler (2005-2010) | spouse = {{ubl | {{marriage|Susan Sands|1987|2006|reason=divorced}} | {{marriage|Lisa Medrano|2011}} }} | children = 2 }}
'''Edward W. Harbert III''' (born June 15, 1955) is an American broadcasting and television executive. He was the chairman of NBC, and the president and CEO of the Comcast Entertainment Group, and chairman of ABC Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting|url=http://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/leadership-overview/ted-harbert|publisher=Comcast|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Born in 1955 in New York City, Harbert is the son of Marna and Edward W. Harbert II, a pioneering television, advertising, and publishing executive.<ref>{{cite web|last=Variety Staff|title=Producer Edward W. Harbert II Dies at 88|url=https://variety.com/2012/scene/news/producer-edward-w-harbert-ii-dies-at-88-1118052463/|work=April 10, 2012|date=10 April 2012|publisher=Variety|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> One of six children, he grew up immersed in television, and aspired to a career in the industry while still a child. In a 2005 article in ''Advertising Age'', he wrote, “I started poring over the ratings in Nielsen 'Pocket Pieces' when I was 9 years old. Two years later, I learned there were jobs at networks that picked shows and decided where they went on the schedule. From that moment, I wanted one of those jobs.”
Ted Harbert started his broadcasting career as a student at Boston University’s college radio station, WTBU, where he worked with Howard Stern, his friend. After graduating ''magna cum laude'' with a degree in broadcasting and film from the Boston University School of Communications, Harbert went back to Manhattan, New York and worked for ABC. He moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and was at ABC for 20 years going from being a feature film coordinator to the president of ABC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/hof/4167-Ted_Harbert_Chairman_NBC_Broadcasting_NBCUniversal.php|publisher=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> At ABC, Harbert was closely associated with well known shows including''The Wonder Years'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Heisler|first=Steve|title=How Does The Wonder Years Hold Up?|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/08/how-does-the-wonder-years-hold-up.html|work=August 8, 2012|date=8 August 2012 |publisher=Vulture|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> ''NYPD Blue'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Tucker|first=Ken|title=NYPD Blue Review|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308217,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410192023/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308217,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2013|work=October 1, 1993|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> ''The Practice'',<ref>{{cite web|title=The Practice|date=4 March 1997|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118437/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> and ''My So-Called Life''<ref>{{cite web|last=Jensen|first=Jeff|title=Life As We Knew It|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,692296,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070619120647/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,692296,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2007|work=September 10, 2004|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lippman|first=John|title=ABC's Golden Boys|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-05-ca-333-story.html|work=August 5, 1990|date=5 August 1990 |publisher=Los Angeles Times|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> among others and while he was at ABC the network led in primetime in 1995 for the first time in 17 years. ABC topped all of the networks in profits for several years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Bill|title=The Other Shoe Drops: Executive Quits ABC|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/08/arts/other-shoe-drops-executive-quits-abc.html?ref=tedharbert|work=January 8, 1997|date=8 January 1997|publisher=The New York Times|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
In 1999, after a two-year post as a producer for DreamWorks TV, Harbert was appointed president of NBC Studios,<ref>{{cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|title=Harbert Takes Reins Of NBC Studios Unit|url=https://variety.com/1999/more/news/harbert-takes-reins-of-nbc-studios-unit-1117750714/|work=August 24, 1999|date=24 August 1999|publisher=Variety|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> in charge of primetime, daytime, and late night programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harbert Named To Head NBC Studios|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news1999/aug99/news5824.html|work=August, 1999|publisher=Media Life|access-date=21 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411080827/http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news1999/aug99/news5824.html|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> In 2004, Harbert became the president of E! Networks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoffmeister|first=Sallie|title=Comcast Expected to Name E! Chief|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-01-fi-ted01-story.html|work=July 1, 2004|date=July 2004 |publisher=Los Angeles Times|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> In 2006, he was promoted to the newly created position of president and CEO at the Comcast Entertainment Group running E!, Style Network, G4, Comcast International Media Group, and Comcast Entertainment Productions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comcast Names Ted Harbert President, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group|url=http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail.ashx?PRID=34&SCRedirect=true|work=October 13, 2006|publisher=Comcast Corporate Press Release|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> When Harbert extended his Comcast contract in 2010, it was noted that E!, in particular, had been successful and for six years had record ratings.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adalian|first=Josef|title=E! Chief Ted Harbert Locks In New Five Year Deal|url=http://www.thewrap.com/tv/ind-column/e-chief-ted-harbert-locks-new-five-year-deal-12847|work=January 12, 2010|date=12 January 2010 |publisher=The Wrap|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
Harbert was appointed to his most recent position in 2011 after Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal. He was responsible for NBC advertising sales, the NBC owned television stations, affiliate relations, network research, domestic television distribution, in addition to NBCUniversal digital entertainment and special events. In 2013, it was announced that Harbert would oversee NBC late night programming. During Harbert's tenure, ''The Tonight Show'' returned to its birthplace of New York City, a move coinciding with the transition of hosts from Jay Leno to Jimmy Fallon, while Seth Meyers took former ''Saturday Night Live'' castmate Fallon's slot on ''Late Night''. Harbert left NBCUniversal in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=NBC's Ted Harbert Adds Late-Night Oversight (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbcs-ted-harbert-adds-late-450351|work=May 1, 2013|date=May 2013|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Guthrie|first1=Marisa|last2=Abramovitch|first2=Seth|title=NBCUniversal Exec Ted Harbert Exiting Company|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/nbcuniversal-exec-ted-harbert-exiting-929264/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 15, 2016|publisher=Penske Media|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>
==In pop culture== Harbert, who appeared as himself in an episode of ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' (Season 1, Episode 9),<ref>{{cite web|title=Curb Your Enthusiasm|date=15 October 2000|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264235/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> is frequently referenced on the ''Howard Stern Show.'' He has been called a "boldface name," due in part to a four-year relationship with comedian Chelsea Handler.<ref>{{cite web|last=Everett|first=Cristina|title=Chelsea Handler Breaks Up With Her Boyfriend -- And Boss -- Ted Harbert|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/chelsea-handler-breaks-boyfriend-boss-ted-harbert-article-1.165651|work=January 26, 2010|date=26 January 2010 |publisher=New York Daily News|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life== Harbert and Chelsea Handler were linked romantically starting in 2005. They broke up in 2010 according to Handler because the two couldn't separate business.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chelsea-handler-ted-harbert-chelsea-lately-367911 | title=Chelsea Handler Says She and Ex Ted Harbert Couldn't Separate Business and Pleasure | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=4 September 2012 }}</ref> Harbert and Lisa Medrano, a former human resources executive married on June 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=THR Staff|title=Hitched, Hatched, Hired|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hitched-hatched-hired-226434|work=August 23, 2011|date=23 August 2011|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> Harbert has two children, Emily and Will, from a previous marriage.
He serves on the boards of Urban Arts Partnership,<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.urbanarts.org/about/ |website=urbanarts.org |publisher=Urban Arts Partnership |access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> the Friends of the Saban Free Clinic, City Year LA, Paley Center for Media, Hollywood Radio and Television Society, and the executive committee of Boston University's School of Communications.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Harbert, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting|url=http://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/leadership-overview/ted-harbert|publisher=Comcast|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{imdb name|0361910}} * [http://www.nbc.com/ NBC] * [http://corporate.comcast.com Comcast] * [http://www.bu.edu/com/ Boston University College of Communication]
{{NBC Universal}} {{Presidents of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbert, Ted}} Category:1955 births Category:American chief executives Category:Television personalities from New York City Category:Boston University College of Communication alumni Category:Comcast people Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:American Broadcasting Company executives Category:Presidents of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment Category:American chairpersons of corporations