Newsweek reports that NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright plans to announce an executive lineup in 2007 that will make his eventual successor clear. The lineup will include a newly-created post at NBC Universal — a president or chief operating officer. Not surprising, considering Wright’s retirement has long been rumored, and this will clear up any lingering rumors that have plagued the network before, during and since announcing its 700 layoffs.

What’s surprising, though, is that NBC TV chief Jeff Zucker [left] is still a top candidate:

But who will it be? Zucker, the onetime wunderkind producer of the “Today” show and now boss of NBC Universal’s TV arm, has bolstered his already-strong prospects lately. In this new TV season, NBC has managed to climb out of the ratings cellar, with one bona fide new hit, “Heroes,” helping fuel the rise. It’s one of the few encouraging signs for the network in recent years.

If Zucker gets the gig, it’ll be a stunning reversal to what we once described as the “spiralling decline of NBC golden boy Jeff Zucker.”

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