Chairmen ousted at Universal Pictures

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Marc Shmuger and David Linde have been ousted after three years as studio chairmen of Hollywood's Universal Pictures, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The decision was made as General Electric Co. is negotiating a possible deal to sell NBC Universal, including its television, theme park and movie properties, to Comcast Inc.

Universal Studios President Ron Meyer has promoted the studio's head of marketing, Adam Fogelson, to chairman, and production president, Donna Langley, to co-chairman, the Journal said Monday.

The move comes after the studio's recent offerings, "Land of the Lost" and "Funny People," turned out to be box-office disappointments.