The February sweeps period, which helps determine ad rates for local stations, ends next week. But reports already show a dubious distinction for NBC. For the first time in its history, Comcast’s newest property will be dead last. Actually to clarify, that’s not third place among the “Big Three” networks, or fourth with Fox. NBC dropped to fifth, behind Univision.

That means the key coveted demographic of 18 to 49 year olds, would rather watch those shows than English-language broadcasts on NBC.

That also means having such a weak lead-in has to be more than a slight distraction to affiliates.

While the official numbers won’t be released until Thursday, it doesn’t take an M.I.T. graduate to figure how this will really hurt all levels of 30 Rock. But the station is more hopeful.

“As you know, sweeps continue for another week,” a WNBC spokesperson tells FishbowlNY. “We are holding 100 percent of the prime time lead-in audience, which is what we did last year, so we are staying the course.”

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There are broadcasting legends, and there is Sue Simmons. FishbowlNY caught up with the iconic anchorwoman for a rare one-on-one interview, as she was being named a Black Media Legend at the Plaza Hotel Friday.

Simmons left WNBC in June after more than three decades at the anchor desk. Three months earlier, word broke on what many considered an unthinkable story—Simmons would not get a contract extension.

Related: FishbowlNY, Sue Simmons Ends Historic Run at WNBC

“I already knew my contract was up and I got threatened with suspension,” Simmons says. “I didn’t say a word until after I left.”

Once Simmons’ future status was published it caused her nothing but angst.

“The last several months from March to June was pretty much a nightmare for me,” Simmons admits. “Because after you’ve worked with your teams and your friends for that long it’s very difficult to come to terms with the fact that it’s not going to be anymore.”

Simmons adds that there was no bitterness as she began the “farewell tour” at WNBC.

“How would you complain about 32 years at one job, in television, in New York City, and being part of the longest running anchor team in New York’s history?”

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We know that you come to FishbowlNY for investing advice, so please heed our words for next year: Buy low, sell high and never, ever, login to your Scottrade account after three scotches. With those 2013 pearls of wisdom aside, let’s take a look at how media stocks did this year.

MediaPost reports that the media industry did quite well. The Dow Jones U.S. Broadcasting and Entertainment Index was up 40 percent compared to last year, as a number of media companies saw gains. By comparison, the Dow Jones Industry Index was up only 6.7 percent.

Comcast, Time Warner and News Corp. all saw improvements over 2011, with jumps of 54, 52 and 47 percent, respectively.

A new opportunity has just popped up for media startups in New York. NYC SeedStart Media 2011 is a 12 week summer boot camp specifically for startups in the digital media space, including ad infrastructure, mobile, digital content and ecommerce businesses.  Each of the 10 companies selected for the program will receive  $20,000 in funding, space to work, and mentoring from an impressive group of media, advertising, and tech companies in New York City that includes AOL Ventures, Comcast, Google, Hearst, MTV Networks, News Corporation, New York Times, Ogilvy, Time Warner, and Vivendi, as well as veteran VCs and entrepreneurs.  The ideal applicant is a media-focused team of two with at least one technical co-founder and a source code or beta product ready to go.  The program begins on June 15th and they’ll be accepting applications through March 31st.  To apply, click here.

With the news of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski giving the nod to Comcast acquiring NBC Universal breaking today, we thought we’d give outgoing NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker one last shout out. The Hollywood Reporter obtained Zucker’s letter to NBC Universal staffers, and surprisingly he doesn’t say anything like “Hey, my bad about that whole Leno and Conan thing which completely ruined our company, but have a good holiday! Well, those of you that will still have a job after Comcast takes over.”

Check out what he does say after the jump.

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New York Post: As Comcast CEO Brian Roberts prepares to take over NBC Universal, he’s been meeting with ex-NBC exec Randy Falco to learn which execs he should keep and who he should dump. Is Jeff Zucker‘s job safe?

Advertising Age: Is radio making a comeback?

Daily Intel: Steve Jobs holds secret iPad meeting with New York Times execs.

E&P In Exile: Looks like the resurrected Editor & Publisher is still using ex-editor Greg Mitchell‘s name to sell renewals.

TVNewser: CNN Radio cuts staff and reorganizes.

New York Times: A new study looks closely at government subsidies for journalism, why they are necessary, and why they are dropping.

Broadcasting & Cable: Comcast, NBC and General Electric have filed a merger application with the FCC, the first step to their deal being approved by the government commission.

E&P In Exile: The New York Times introduced a new commenting system on its Web site, which allows readers to recommend other comments and sort them the way they want.

AdAge: Some hard questions for print publishers to ask about the iPad.

BayNewser: The Bay Area News Project, which is providing content for The New York Times‘ Bay Area section, has named a CEO and editor-in-chief.

Wall Street Journal: The Apple tablet is coming next week and Steve Jobs is looking at ways to “make money in old media.” Well, if anyone can do it…

Mediaweek: Congressional hearings on the antitrust implications of the Comcast-NBC Universal deal are set to begin February 4.

WWD: Celeb weekly InTouch is still on the hunt for a new editor, and Colleen Curtis from AOL, Rob Shuter of Popeater.com and Life & Style‘s Dan Wakeford are the reported frontrunners for the job.

Mediaite: The case of the missing $1.5 million Conan O’Brien “Tonight Show” sketch.

The Observer: After a rough 2009, it looks like Conde Nast CEO Chuck Townsend is ushering in the New Year with pep talks for every publication.

Silicon Alley Insider: Comcast is in talks to carry ESPN‘s 3D channel.

New York Times: Speaking of 3D, Discovery is set to show the pyramids and the Great Wall of China in 3D on its upcoming channels set for 2011.

Vanity Fair/CNET: A Twitter trend piece gets ripped apart for its pointlessness. At least there’s links to the subjects’ Twitter feeds now.

Variety: The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s executive online editor Chris Krewson has been named the new editor of Variety.com.

Less than a month after sealing its deal with General Electric to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal, Comcast has signed a new employment contract with its COO Stephen Burke.

The new deal keeps Burke at Comcast for five more years, and he’ll oversee NBCU once the deal is completed. Burke, who is said to have helped orchestrate the NBCU deal, is earning $2.2 million a year plus a $3 million signing bonus, and he’ll “be eligible for two cash bonuses of $3 million each during the course of the contract,” Variety reported. He also earned $6 million in stock at the time of signing and will get $6 million more when the NBCU deal closes.

Not too shabby.

Comcast seals exec deal –Variety

Previously: It’s Official: Comcast Acquires NBCU Stake