NBC CEO says would consider Dreamworks if available

NEW YORK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - NBC Universal would consider buying Dreamworks from Viacom Inc (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) if the movie studio was ever put up for sale, its top executive said on Monday.

NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker, speaking at an investor conference, said that if "the opportunity were to arise," then buying Dreamworks would be "something we obviously would look at."

The New York Times reported last month that DreamWorks principals David Geffen and Steven Spielberg have been negotiating to move their studio to NBC Universal from Viacom's Paramount Pictures.

Speaking at the same UBS investor conference on Monday, Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said his company "will continue to have a very long relationship with Steven in one form or another."

"Our plan is to proceed with mutual respect," Dauman said. "We're going to proceed with calm, deliberateness and to make sure he's happy doing what he's doing."

DreamWorks was acquired by Paramount Pictures and Viacom Inc (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) in 2005 for $1.6 billion.

NBC is majority owned by General Electric (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch and Kenneth Li)