Herb Granath

In his five-hour interview, Herb Granath (1928-2019) discusses his start in the entertainment industry as a college student working in the Page Program at NBC. He talks of becoming a staff member within the NBC sales department, and his subsequent move to ABC sales. He details working on Monday Night Football and creating a special sales unit focused on selling sports programming. Granath then discusses the beginnings of ABC Sports and his involvement in helping ABC become "The Network of the Olympics." He details his move into the position of vice president of program development at ABC Sports, recalls becoming a director of the parent company of International Management Group, and outlines his eventual return to ABC as assistant to the president. Granath also recounts ABC's entrance into cable programming and the beginnings of basic cable. He chronicles the creation of several cable channels including A&E, The History Channel, and Lifetime. He also discusses the birth and growth of both ESPN and ESPN 2, shares his role in the development of ABC's long partnership with the Shubert Organization, and comments on his move into the role of chairman of Disney International upon ABC's merger with The Disney Company. He also touches on being vice chairman of Central European Media and becoming co-chairman of the Hallmark Network. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 15, 2011 in Darien, CT.