NBC's Robert Greenblatt at TCA

NBC’s top entertainment executive, Robert Greenblatt, was a guest during NBC’s session at the Television Critics Association Summer press tour today. While his focus is on NBC’s drama, comedy and reality programming, he had a few things to say about NBC News too.

The Hollywood Reporter‘s Marisa Guthrie reports that Greenblatt weighed in on the Ann Curry transition at “Today,” as well as the decision to put “Rock Center” on Thursdays.

On Curry:

In noting that NBC News is “an incredible asset to the company,” Greenblatt conceded that “shows go through transitions and they’re always difficult. I think everyone inside the news division took as much care as they possibly could (during the Today anchor) transition. Things leak and you have to go out and announce something that you weren’t ready to announce. My heart goes out to everyone involved in that transition including Ann. I have no doubt that (Today) will rebound. I think everybody is really bullish on the future of it.”

On “Rock Center”:
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The Television Critics Association Winter press tour is kicking off in Pasadena this week, and already there is an interesting TV news development. NBC entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt was asked about Ryan Seacrest and “Today,” and although it doesn’t exactly fall under his purview, he had some interesting things to say on the matter.

Greenblatt said that retaining Matt Lauer is a priority for the network, and that speculation about his departure is “premature.” “It is our hope that Matt Lauer will stay on the show,” Greenblatt told reporters.

Regarding Ryan Seacrest, Greenblatt did not deny that he could have a role on NBC”s “Today,” noting that the company wanted to keep him in the NBC family (Seacrest has a production and hosting deal with E!, which is owned by NBCUniversal).

The NBC entertainment chief also said that Seacrest might have a place in primetime:

“If [Seacrest] said he wanted to do interview specials a la Barbara Walters, we would be interested,” Greenblatt said.