Rome Hartman joining NBC News; will oversee new Brian Williams primetime show

By Chris Ariens 

Rome Hartman is leaving BBC America and joining NBC News where he will be Executive Producer of the new primetime magazine hour anchored by Brian Williams.

Hartman joined the BBC in 2007 as the first EP of the network’s “World News America.” Before that he’d spent 24 years with CBS News, in his final year as the EP, overseeing the launch of “The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.” Couric recently departed that show, and CBS News, after five years. Matt Frei, the original anchor of “World News America,” also left that post last month.

Also announced, NBC News veteran David Corvo has been promoted to Senior Executive Producer of Primetime News, overseeing the new newsmagazine as well as “Dateline.” Corvo joined NBC in 1995 after spending most of his career at CBS News, at times, working with Hartman.

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Hartman will be responsible for the development and launch of the Williams hour, a live, weekly broadcast which NBC says “will be built around the week’s biggest and most interesting events, meaningful and in-depth stories, and timely newsmaker interviews.”

More in the press release after the jump…

Update: BBC statements after the jump as well…

ROME HARTMAN NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF NEW NBC NEWS PRIMETIME NEWSMAGAZINE

David Corvo Elevated to Senior Executive Producer

June 1, 2011 – New York, NY – Rome Hartman will be joining NBC News as Executive Producer of its new primetime magazine hour announced by the network last month. David Corvo, currently Executive Producer of “Dateline,” has been elevated to Senior Executive Producer, Primetime News, overseeing the new newsmagazine as well as “Dateline.” The new broadcast, hosted by Brian Williams, the anchor and managing editor of America’s leading evening newscast, “NBC Nightly News,” will feature the talent of NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC top correspondents and trusted anchors. The announcement was made today by Steve Capus, President of NBC News.
Hartman will be responsible for the development and launch of NBC News primetime newsmagazine broadcast, working closely with David Corvo, Brian Williams, the show’s correspondents and producers.
“NBC News is strategically positioned to launch a new primetime newsmagazine, and Rome Hartman is the perfect person to collaborate with David Corvo to see that through,” said Capus. “An award-winning producer with integrity, credibility, and vast knowledge of producing hard news and long-form programming, we are tremendously excited to have Rome on board. We are equally thrilled to have David, who has led the successful and critically acclaimed “Dateline” team for the past 10 years, add this new project to his portfolio.”
While serving as Executive Producer at BBC News, Hartman developed, launched and produced the award-winning “BBC World News America,” the BBC’s first ever newscast specifically tailored for U.S. viewers. Prior to BBC, he was with CBS for over 24 years; as the executive producer of “The CBS Evening News,” he oversaw the launch of “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” was a prolific producer of more than 100 reports for “60 Minutes” and served as the senior producer responsible for “60 Minutes II.” Before his “60 Minutes” tenure, Hartman was the senior producer for the “CBS Evening News” in Washington D.C. and CBS News’ White House producer. He joined CBS News in 1983 as a field producer in the Atlanta Bureau.
In addition to three Peabody Awards and a DuPont Award for “BBC World News America,” Hartman has been honored with six Emmy Awards, an Overseas Press Club Award, a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and a Gerald Loeb Award from the UCLA Anderson School of Business. Hartman was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He graduated from Duke University in 1977 with a degree in political science. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife; they have two sons.

Corvo joined NBC News as vice president in June 1995 and was named executive producer of “Dateline NBC” in May 2001. Since then, “Dateline” has consistently delivered solid ratings and for the 2010-2011 season, it was the #1 Friday newsmagazine in total viewers. “Dateline” has received numerous recognitions from industry organizations, including: two Peabody Awards; three Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards; ten News & Documentary Emmy Awards and two Business & Financial Reporting Emmy Awards; eight Edward R. Murrow Awards and one RTNDA/Unity Award; four Sigma Chi Delta Awards; four Gracie Awards; two IRE Awards; and seventeen National Headliner Awards. In his new role, Corvo will oversee the strategic and creative direction of “Dateline,” and the new primetime newsmagazine broadcast.

Drawing on the unparalleled strength of America’s premier news organization, the weekly, hour-long program hosted by Brian Williams, the anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” will be an exciting showcase for journalistic excellence. The live broadcast will be built around the week’s biggest and most interesting events, meaningful and in-depth stories, and timely newsmaker interviews. In addition to the innovative primetime television program, there will be groundbreaking, constantly evolving digital editions of the magazine that will be available online and via the show’s iPad app.

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Peter Horrocks, Director, BBC Global News:
“In a few short years Rome has created a show that more than punches its weight in the U.S. TV News business. That Rome has been recruited to run a prestigious network show demonstrates the respect in which he and his program are held among his peers. We will now be searching for a replacement who can take the BBC’s news in the U.S., on TV and digital, to even greater heights.”

Herb Scannel, President, BBC Worldwide, America:
“Rome has been a fantastic asset to the BBC’s news operation in the U.S. He created and led BBC World News America with distinction, winning every major news award over the last three years. As everyone who has ever worked with Rome knows, he’s a consummate professional, an inspirational leader and a hell of a nice guy. We wish him every success in his new position.”

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