“The View” is moving from the entertainment unit of ABC to the non-fiction programming group of ABC News.
Season 18 of “The View” kicked off last month with a new cast, a new studio adjacent to ABC News HQ, and a new production team. This move further aligns the daytime show with ABC News resources. The show was co-created by ABC News anchor Barbara Walters, who continues to hold the executive producer title and was informed of the news earlier this week.
While continuing their roles with ABC News, executives Tom Cibrowski, Barbara Fedida and David Sloan will work closely with Co-EPs Bill Wolff and Brian Balthazar and their team.
“Tom, Barbara and David have helped take our shows to the next level and worked on a wide range of diverse news and non-fiction programming,” ABC News president James Goldston writes in a note to staff. “Now they’ll help guide ‘The View’ in its exciting next chapter.”
We’re told the ABC News execs met with cast members Rosie O’Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez and Nicole Wallace yesterday. Wolff also introduced them to many show staffers.
“The View” is the second non-fiction unit of ABC News, joining Lincoln Square productions which produces programs for ABC and other networks and is overseen by Morgan Hertzan. “I feel incredibly fortunate that we’re now expanding our non-fiction roster to include The View. We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with its terrific team, and we look forward to exciting days ahead,” Goldston writes.
Team—
I want to share some exciting news. ABC News is expanding our non-fiction programming group, which already includes Lincoln Square Productions, and will now also include The View.
The View, created by our own great Barbara Walters, has always operated at the intersection of opinion and news. In its long and storied history, it has very often made headlines as the biggest names from politics to pop culture have chosen The View to share their incredible stories. For 18 seasons it has occupied a unique place in American culture and been a destination for presidents, world leaders and celebrities, both the famous and the infamous.
This fall The View began another exciting chapter with Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace at the table. They have proven once again that a panel of diverse, accomplished women with vast experiences makes for colorful conversation and great television.
As many of you know firsthand, The View has often called on our on-air team to help viewers understand the biggest stories of the day, from Ebola to Election Night. Moving The View to our non-fiction programming group now allows it to fully draw on the vast resources of ABC News and our team in New York, especially now that the show is based right next to the Barbara Walters building.
In addition to their current and vital roles, I’ve asked Tom Cibrowski, Barbara Fedida and David Sloan to work closely with Randy Barone, Bill Wolff, Brian Balthazar, Kathleen Rajsp and the very talented team on-air and behind the scenes at The View. Tom, Barbara and David have helped take our shows to the next level and worked on a wide range of diverse news and non-fiction programming. Now they’ll help guide The View in its exciting next chapter.
We started to ramp up our non-fiction programming several years ago, and under the strong leadership of Morgan Hertzan, Lincoln Square Productions is growing fast and doing some simply amazing work. Award-winning shows like NY Med, Dr. Besser’s Ebola documentary for Discovery and Surgeon Oz have broadened our perspective on how we better explain the world to our audience and draw new viewers to ABC News.
I feel incredibly fortunate that we’re now expanding our non-fiction roster to include The View. We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with its terrific team, and we look forward to exciting days ahead.
James