Gumbel signs 3-year contract with 'Today'

NEW YORK -- Bryant Gumbel signed a new three-year contract yesterday to remain as anchor of the NBC News program "Today."

That announcement came a day after NBC News named Jeff Zucker, 26, as the weekday program's new executive producer.

Gumbel has been the program's anchor since January 1982. His previous three-year contract expired two weeks ago, and he has been on vacation since then. He is due back from vacation on Monday.

A "Today" staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Zucker's promotion from supervising producer to executive producer was a factor in keeping Gumbel, who is close to Zucker and a strong backer of his abilities.