REPORT: UNIVERSAL’S MEYER TO BE “KICKED UPSTAIRS”

Comcast plans to replace Universal chief Ron Meyer with DreamWorks’ Stacey Snider after the Olympics, the New York Post reported today (Wednesday), citing unnamed sources. The newspaper said that Snider, who is friendly with Comcast chief Brian Roberts, has been “actively working to get the job.” It noted that its source believes that Disney, which has a distribution agreement with DreamWorks, “would be fine” with Snider’s departure. The Post also observed that Meyer, who is celebrating his 17th year with the studio today, has been telling friends that he expects to be moved upstairs. The studio currently has a huge hit in theaters, the raunchy Ted, which has grossed nearly $200 million domestically.

UPDATE: Sharon Waxman of TheWrap.com attempted to check out the report. “A senior executive with knowledge of Comcast’s thinking says flat-out it’s not true,” Waxman wrote. “A senior executive with knowledge of Universal’s thinking says it’s not true, to their knowledge. A senior executive with knowledge of Snider’s thinking says Snider has not been approached, is not negotiating and has had no offer. That said, she is certainly under consideration.”