NBC’s Tonight Show cuts staff, Leno takes pay cut

New York: Comcast Corp’s NBC Universal eliminated about 20 positions from The Tonight Show and host Jay Leno took a salary cut, a person familiar with the moves said.

Leno, who receives about $25 million to $30 million (Dh91.8 million to Dh110.19 million) a year, agreed to accept about $20 million, according to the person, who wasn’t authorised to speak publicly. The Los Angeles Times and IMDB.com, a movie and entertainment website, reported the staff cuts and Leno’s pay package earlier.

Dick Guttman, a publicist for Leno, didn’t respond to a voicemail left by Bloomberg News seeking comment. Leno’s agent, Steve Levine, also didn’t immediately reply to a voicemail and e-mail.

The move comes 19 months after Philadelphia-based Comcast, the largest US cable operator, acquired control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co GE, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, moved Leno to 10 pm three years ago in a failed attempt to move the late-night talk-show host into prime time.

Other staff members also agreed to pay cuts as well, the Times reported.

The newspaper said the show’s weekly budget will be about $1.7 million after the cost cuts, down from about $2.3 million now.

Shares of Comcast fell less than 1 per cent to $34.02 on August 17 in Nasdaq trading. The stock is up 43 per cent year to date.