Head of NBC Entertainment Extends Contract to 2017

NBC quietly renewed the contract of its chief entertainment executive, Robert Greenblatt, extending his deal with the network until 2017.

Robert Greenblatt, the head of entertainment at NBC, has extended his contract through 2017.

Executives confirmed the deal on Friday, insisting on anonymity because the network did not want to make an official announcement. Still, the decision represents a distinct vote of confidence in Mr. Greenblatt, who was put in place by the new Comcast management of NBC in January 2011, with the specific charge to reverse the long slide that had sunk NBC deep into last place in the networks’ prime-time ratings.

NBC experienced a bit of resurgence last fall, especially with shows like “The Voice” and “Revolution,” then suffered another fallow period in the winter. But this season NBC has high hopes for several new series, including the comedy “The Michael J. Fox Show” and the drama “The Blacklist.”

Probably not coincidentally, NBC did make one announcement on Friday: that it had finished second among the broadcast networks in ratings among viewers between 18 and 49 â€" a prime sales group for advertisers â€" over 52 weeks. It was the first time NBC beat both ABC and Fox in that category for a full year since 2002-03.