NBC Universal’s Jeff Zucker started the day at Bryant Park Grill where he sat down for an hour long “conversation” with Ken Auletta , the New Yorker writer. Along with other media folks, we listened as Zucker fielded questions from Auletta and the audience on a range of subjects — from his battles with colon cancer to the dismissal of Don Imus from MSNBC.

Zucker didn’t drop any bombshells, but had a lot to say about what’s going on at NBCU these days. For those of you who missed the breakfast (sponsored by the S.I. Newhouse School ) we thought we’d provide some excerpts:

On his future: I’ve been in this job eight months. I’d like to survive for a year.

On Apple and iTunes: We obviously have a serious disagreement here. Apple has sold millions and millions and tens of million in hardware — iPods — on the back of our content. … We’ve said, Let’s take one show and let’s experiment and sell it for $2.99. ‘Heroes.’ ‘The Office.’ (Steve Jobs) can pick which one it is. We’ve made that offer for months. He’s said no.

On the Fox Business Network: You’ve gotta give them credit for just getting on the air. … We couldn’t buy the amount of attention CNBC has gotten in the last month… This idea that you’re anti-business or pro-business is just slogans. The property is as good as it has been. I don’t want them getting away from their game because there is someone out there shouting slogans.

On Katie Couric: She didn’t come into a newscast that was in first or second place. CBS, by their own acknowledgment, made some mistakes. The lesson there is it’s probably better to underpromise and overdeliver.

On Dow Jones: We looked at Dow Jones four times in the last 10 or 12 years. This was not the first time we kicked the tires. But the fact is, it made no economic sense for anyone but Rupert.

On Jay Leno: Jay has been one of the most important people in the history of NBC. I’d very much like to find a way to keep him in the family and we’re in those discussions now. But Conan will take over in 2009.

On the Guild strike: I hope there’s not a strike, but unfortunately it’s looking more and more likely that we won’t be able to come to terms.

On Hulu: Hulu is the superstore, as opposed to the specialty store, NBC.com.

On an NBC Universal sale: Jeff Immelt has been very clear on this. He has said numerous times that NBCU is not for sale. It’s not for sale after the Olympics. … If it made sense for GE to sell NBCU, I’d be in favor of it. I’m a shareholder. If we don’t perform, GE should sell NBCU. Fact is, we’ve performed.

(Photo: Reuters)