Edward W. "Ted" Harbert III is a veteran American broadcasting and television executive.
Background
Born in 1955 in New York, Harbert is the son of Marna and Edward W. Harbert II, a pioneering television, advertising, and publishing executive. One of six children, Harbert grew up immersed in television, and aspired to a career in the industry while still a child.
Career
He is currently the Chairman of National Broadcasting Company Broadcasting, and was previously the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Comcast Entertainment Group, and Chairman of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment. In a 2005 article in Advertising Age, Harbert wrote, “I started poring over the ratings in Nielsen "Pocket Pieces" when I was 9 years old. Two years later, I learned there were jobs at networks that picked shows and decided where they went on the schedule.
From that moment, I wanted one of those jobs.”
After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Broadcasting and Film from the Boston University School of Communications, Harbert returned to New York, where he worked at American Broadcasting Company. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1981 and spent 20 years at American Broadcasting Company, rising from a feature film coordinator to president of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment.
At American Broadcasting Company, Harbert was closely associated with groundbreaking programs such as The Wonder Years,New York City Police Department Blue,The Practice, and My So Called Life, among many others, and, during his tenure, American Broadcasting Company moved to the top in primetime programs in 1995 for the first time in 17 years, and led all the networks in profits for several years. In 1999, after a two-year post as a producer for Dreamworks television, Harbert was named president of National Broadcasting Company Studios, overseeing primetime, day time, and late night programs.
In 2004, Harbert was appointed to the position of president, East! Networks. In 2006, he was promoted to the newly created position of president and Chief Executive Officer at the Comcast Entertainment Group, overseeing East!, Style Network, G4, Comcast International Media Group, and Comcast Entertainment Productions.
Harbert was appointed to his current position in 2011, following Comcast"s acquisition of National Broadcasting Company Universal.
He is responsible for National Broadcasting Company Advertising Sales, the National Broadcasting Company Owned Television Stations, Affiliate Relations, Network Research, Domestic Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Digital Entertainment and Special Events. In 2013, it was announced that Harbert would oversee National Broadcasting Company Late Night. Harbert, who appeared as himself in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, is frequently referenced on the Howard Stern Show.
Additionally, Harbert has been described as a "bold-faced name," due in part to a four-year relationship with comedian Chelsea Handler.