Fox Exec Slams Zucker, NBC: "Clueless," Fox Wannabes, "It's The Deal Or No Deal Network"

Fox Broadcasting Co. scheduling chief Preston Beckman took aim Wednesday at NBC's plans for a 52-week programming schedule, saying that it wasn't anything different than what Fox began to do five years ago with "American Idol" and "The O.C."

"I think what Jeff (Zucker) did was say, 'We want to be Fox,' " said Beckman, who was in charge of NBC scheduling until he joined Fox in 2000.

NBC said Wednesday that it won't hold a traditional upfront presentation and instead will announce a 52-week program schedule in April. After that it will spend weeks meeting with advertisers and media buyers before having an informal party in mid-May, when its rivals will unveil their schedules.

Beckman, who traditionally is outspoken on industry matters, said that his former network is "probably the most clueless" when it comes to fall scheduling, whereas the other networks, especially Fox and CBS, are more stable.

"It's the 'Deal or No Deal,' 'Law & Order' network," Beckman said of NBC.

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