It all rests on the ablilities of Jeff Zucker

Will GE's French partners in NBC Universal sell their share in the struggling company, or will they hold on to it if the Zucker is named as the new head sooner than later? Last week Vivendi announced that they would look to unload their 20% stake in the media company. However they never said why or under what conditions. In January, Vivendi, a major NBC shareholder, will decide whether to exercise an option to sell as much as $3 billion worth of its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal back to its parent, General Electric. A move by Vivendi to hang on to its stake could be a sign of confidence in Zucker, who is likely to soon succeed NBC Chairman Bob Wright. But if Vivendi sells, it could signal concerns about the young executive's ability to put NBC back on track and lift its broadcast-TV network from the bottom of the ratings heap. Wouldn't it be a shock to us all if Jeff Zucker is passed over for the top job? ANXIOUS NBC AWAITS VIVENDI'S NEXT STEP [NYP]