NBC alum Marc Graboff to join CKX

Marc Graboff is poised to take the reins of CKX, the holding company that owns "American Idol" producer 19 Entertainment and rights to the name and likenesses of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, among other assets. Graboff, former NBC prexy of West Coast operations, is expected to serve as prexy of CKX, which was bought out for $509 million in June after months on the auction block by Leon Black's private equity giant Apollo Global Management. Graboff is expected to focus on driving Apollo's investments in other media and entertainment firms, and it's understood Apollo is ready to spend to add some heft to CKX's motley assortment of holdings. The company already is said to be eyeing at an investment in at least one indie unscripted TV production company. Graboff announced his exit from NBC in November. He spent the past 11 years overseeing business operations for NBC Entertainment. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com