Mel Karmazin says he’s perfect choice for Comcast-NBC entity but he’s just not interested

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Sirius XM CEO Mel Karmazin has never lacked for confidence. Although the satellite radio broadcaster’s stock is trading at under $1.00 per share, he told Fox Business Network’s Neil Cavuto that he is the ideal candidate to run whatever entity is created should cable giant Comcast Corp. take control of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal.

‘There would be no question that I would be perfect to run it,’ Karmazin said. Whether Comcast or Sirius XM shareholders agree with that sentiment remains to be seen.

Though Karmazin may be the right man for the job, in his opinion, he also took himself out of the running because he doesn’t want to be anyone’s No. 2 ever again. ‘I wouldn’t be a number two to Warren Buffett,’ Karmazin said.

He has a point. Karmazin’s track record as a No. 2 is mixed. He successfully pushed out Michael Jordan and took over CBS. But when CBS and Sumner Redstone’s Viacom merged, he was not able to outlast Redstone and left when his deal was up.

Karmazin did offer the secret for dealing with talent, many of whom act like prima donnas. Asked by Cavuto how he manages his roster of ‘gargantuan egos,’ which includes Howard Stern, Rosie O’Donnell, Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey, he said, ‘It’s called money, OK.’

-- Joe Flint