Ben Silverman announced yesterday what has been rumored for months–that he is leaving his post as co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. Jeff Gaspin has been named chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, effective immediately.
Silverman will form a new venture with Barry Diller‘s IAC. Since Silverman was named the top programming executive at NBC, the network pushed heavily into the area of product integration into programs as a way to offset the use of commercial-jumping TiVO. However, the network’s ratings continued to remain sluggish at best, and NBC–while it has some critical favorites–has yet to earn back its “Must-See-TV” moniker, says the Daily News.
NBC affiliates responded to the news with a mix of apathy and hope. Some feel that changes in upper-level management are rarely felt at the local station level. Others think that new creative leadership at the top might cure NBCs prolonged primetime ratings slump. Craig Allison of KSHB Kansas City hopes a more creative approach and a new set of eyes [will] create two or three breakout hits, reports Broadcasting & Cable.
With the new structure, all of NBC Universal’s entertainment divisions–in broadcast and cable–will report to Gaspin. In an interview with The Wrap, Gaspin said of the change, It means everyone recognizes there’s a secular challenge to broadcast television. It means cable has emerged as the superior model. And there are ways to work together, to make them both more successful.