Zucker has eyes on being new ESPN skipper

CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has thrown his hat in the ring to run ESPN, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday, citing “multiple sources.”

Zucker (right) reportedly signed a lengthy contract extension with CNN, but he’d be in the crosshairs if an AT&T merger with CNN parent Time Warner is approved.

The telecommunications giant would look to “neutralize” Zucker after it buys Time Warner, The Post reported last summer.

Multiple high-profile missteps have jeopardized Zucker’s future in the eyes of AT&T brass, three knowledgable sources told The Post at the time — including botched reports tied to the federal probee of possible Trump-campaign collusion with Russia and a profane anti- Trump tweet by CNN host Reza Aslan. ZuckeZucker has also drawn the frequentquent “fake news” ire of Presidentdent Trump, whose Justice DepaDepartment has sued to stop AT&T’s proposed $85 billion mergmerger with Time Warner. RegulatorsRe believe the “vertvertical” merger would lead to hihigher pay-TV costs for US coconsumers. Zucker also has yet to have direct contact with Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, ESPN’s parent company, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

Iger would have the ultimate say in who runs the sports network in the wake of the abrupt resignation of John Skipper just before Christmas.

Other early contenders to helm ESPN include Kevin Mayer, Disney’s head of strategy.