For the news divisions the changes appear to be minimal, with both NBC News president Steve Capus and CNBC president Mark Hoffman remaining in place, reporting to incoming CEO Steve Burke.

The fact that Capus did not receive oversight of CNBC is somewhat surprising, although sources at the financial network say that Hoffman was not keen on having to report to Capus, and the strong performance of the channel ($723 million in operating revenue, according to SNL Kagan), led Comcast execs to do what they could to keep him around.

The only top level execs to depart once the deal closes will be CEO Jeff Zucker, NBC Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin, communications and PR chief Allison Gollust and NBC sales and marketing boss Mike Pilot.

At the moment the deal is in the hands of the FCC and DOJ, who both have to sign off on it before it becomes official. It is expected that it will be approved–with conditions–by the end of the year, although the timeline could slip into early 2011.

Burke announced the changes in a memo to staffers this morning. That memo is after the jump.

continued…

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As was reported, Morgan’s NBC contract and the obligations involved would have likely prevented CNN from entering direct negotiations until a certain time.

CNN is declining to comment at the moment. TVNewser has learned, however, that negotiations are underway, which should not come as a surprise.

Update: The Wrap has just updated its story to include this addition: “Gaspin later spoke to TheWrap to clarify his comments saying, ‘We have relaxed his exclusivity and allowed him to talk to CNN.’ Gaspin said he could not speak to any deal between CNN and Morgan.”

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Zucker admits affiliate pressure ultimately brought an end to “The Jay Leno Show.”

In early January he got a call from his entertainment chief Jeff Gaspin who’d been hearing from restless NBC stations. “It was becoming tough to deal with,” Zucker said. “The pressure from the affiliate body was strong.”

“At the end of the day Jay at 10 o’clock didn’t work. And I take responsibility for that.”

But Zucker was not alone in his 30 Rock office during the interview. One of NBC’s most successful — and well-liked — executives was there too, standing up for his boss:

At the end of the interview in Mr. Zucker’s office, Steve Capus, the head of NBC News, spoke up strongly on behalf of his boss, saying the news media had blown the late-night ordeal “out of proportion,” especially, he said, in light of more important stories like the tragedy in Haiti. “He is paying a price that is so out of whack with what is happening here,” he said.

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From 8-9pm, “Dateline” drew 7.55 million viewers, placing second for the hour. At 9pm, “Dateline” was number one and drew 10.35 million viewers, the largest audience of any show that night.

For the season, it was the show’s second highest 18-49 and total-viewer result and the network’s highest numbers for any NBC program in the Friday 9-10pm hour.

The program was composed of exclusive interviews and footage from Goldman’s trip to Brazil to regain custody of his 9-year-old son and the pair’s travel back to the US. NBC News paid for the private jet they flew back on.

Strong ratings like these are likely part of the reason “Dateline” has been mentioned as a temporary fill-in for NBC’s 10pm time-slot once Jay Leno‘s program moves out. “There will probably be two scripted hours, another reality show, ‘Dateline’ or some re-runs,” NBC Universal TV Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin has said of the slot. “I’ve been thinking about that as long as I’ve been thinking I may have to make a change at 10 p.m.”

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But the arrangement was not done with the network approaching the singer. Instead, Bon Jovi’s manager suggested the idea, and the New Jersey rocker took it to NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker, who developed it with Jeff Gaspin, NBC’s chairman of entertainment. Bon Jovi will exclusively appear on NBC programming. The NYTimes reports:

These appearances will include the “Today” show, “The Tonight Show,” “The Jay Leno Show” and “Saturday Night Live” — and even an interview on the “NBC Nightly News” with Brian Williams.

Bon Jovi is even appearing on Bravo’s “Inside the Actors Studio,” where he will undoubtedly discuss his Olivier-esque roles in “Moonlight and Valentino” and “National Lampoon’s: Pucked.”

Singers often appear on TV news programs to promote their work or causes, but an elaborate arrangement like this including both entertainment and news programs is uncommon. When asked how the deal fits within the news division, an NBC News spokesperson told TVNewser, “Any appearance by Bon Jovi will fall within NBC News standards.” The spokesperson also told us Bon Jovi would have been booked for a concert and a “Nightly” story regardless of the “artist in residence” title.

The “Nightly” segment will be part of the “Making a Difference” series and will highlight Bon Jovi’s philanthropic work. Reports The Times: “His foundation has supported the building of about 200 houses in Newark and Philadelphia and has plans to participate in setting up a project called a Robin Hood restaurant in Red Bank, N.J., an idea that came from a previous segment on the NBC newscast.”

This is not the first time “Nightly News” has featured a popular musician on the program. In 2006, Brian Williams traveled to Africa and followed Bono for three days covering his humanitarian efforts.

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