Executives

Chris Albrecht on how his experience managing a comedy club helped him later as a television executive

Chris Albrecht the process of programing shows as President of Original Programming at HBO

Chris Albrecht on advice to aspiring television executives

Dick Askin on his leadership style

Dick Askin on advice to aspiring television executives

Ralph M. Baruch on advice to aspiring television executives

Ted Bergmann on his rise and job titles at DuMont

Stephen J. Cannell on his knack for casting the right people in the right roles

Charles Cappleman on being hired by Bob Daly to become general manager of Television City

Charles Cappleman on attending a yearly CBS affiliates conference

Charles Cappleman on his advice to aspiring television executives

Dick Clark on his entrepreneurship

Andy Cohen on advice to aspiring television executives

John Conte on the responsibility of a small market television station general manager

Barbara Corday on her responsibilities as Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

Barbara Corday on being named Vice President of Comedy Series Development at ABC

Barbara Corday on the kinds of programs that were produced when she was at Columbia Pictures Television

Barbara Corday on advice to aspiring television executives

Douglas S. Cramer on becoming Vice President in Charge of Production at Paramount

Douglas S. Cramer on his producing style and choosing the music composers for his shows

Michael Dann on his process for scheduling prime time television at CBS

Michael Dann on the high point of his career - working with Pat Weaver

Michael Dann on his role as CBS Vice President of New York programs

Rod Erickson on the factors that go into the decision to advertise on a show and the importance of the writer

Rod Erickson on reading the Neilson ratings and predicting people's television viewing habits on given nights of the week

Rod Erickson on the research involved in making effective commercials and on the psychology of commercials 

Jeff Fager on becoming Chairman of CBS News in 2011 and changes he made to various CBS News shows

Jeff Fager on balancing his roles as Chairman of CBS News and executive producer of 60 Minutes and his proudest achievements as Chairman

Richard Frank on working with Michael Eisner on the Paramount Television Group and learning how to work with writers

Richard Frank on his philosophy as a television executive

Richard Frank on dealing with backstage gossip and controversy  

Richard Frank on his management style and the qualities he looks for in his team

Richard Frank on advice to aspiring executives

Michael Fuchs on advice to aspiring executives

David Gerber on his management style

Leonard Goldberg on becoming head of television and film programming (President and COO) at 20th Century Fox and working with Barry Diller

Leonard Goldberg on taking charge of daytime programming at ABC and targeting children's programming

Leonard Goldberg on getting promoted to ABC's head of programming

Leonard H. Goldenson on his management style at ABC

Leonard H. Goldenson on his most important decisions at ABC

Julian Goodman on becoming manager of news and special events for NBC Radio in D.C.; on why he liked being a manager and Executive

Donald Hall on the formation of Hallmark Entertainment and The Hallmark Channel

Donald Hall on his management style and his employees

Robert Halmi, Sr. on becoming Chairman when Hallmark bought RHI

Doug Herzog on the business of programming Comedy Central, learning as he goes along, and on Emerson College

Stanley Hubbard on the key to his success

Stanley Hubbard on his most important business decisions and greatest personal accomplishments

Herb Jellinek on his management style and on what he enjoyed about working for ABC

Robert Johnson on his and Debra Lee's leadership at BET

Robert Johnson on his advice to an entrepreneur interested in starting a network

Chuck Jones on serving as VP of Children's Programming for ABC TV

Michael King on the success of Wheel of Fortune and the business of selling the show

Michael King on maintaining the ratings for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! and the various promotions for the shows

Michael King on advice to someone entering the television business

Roger King on his desire to go into his father's business, and on his father's business philosophy

Roger King on the decision to take King World public

Roger King on creating and distributing The Roseanne Show, starring Roseanne, and on how King World dealt with failure

Roger King on the King World merger with CBS/Viacom, and on working with Sumner M. Redstone to make the deal

Roger King on what was different about King World that led to its massive success

Roger King on what attracts him to a project, and on his working style

Roger King on advice to an aspiring television executive

Roger King on the business of television syndication

Kay Koplovitz on her advice to aspiring media executives

Perry Lafferty on the importance of scheduling to programming a network

Perry Lafferty on the significant shows he programmed at CBS, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Perry Lafferty on the importance of made-for-television movies and miniseries on a network schedule

Perry Lafferty on the importance of a programming executive interacting with the creative community, and executives working with producers

Perry Lafferty on unusual pitches he heard as an executive

Perry Lafferty on casting being the most important element to a hit television series

Brian Lamb on his management style

Brian Lamb on his typical work day at C-SPAN

Brian Lamb on advice to someone interested in public affairs programming and how he'd like to be remembered

Stan Lee on being creative head of Marvel Productions

Warren Littlefield on becoming President of NBC Entertainment

Warren Littlefield on advice to network programmers 

Margaret Loesch on having an ability to understand children and know what shows they would watch

Margaret Loesch on the responsibility she felt to provide quality, non-violent programming for children

Margaret Loesch on what she enjoys about being a television executive, and on her vision for Fox Kids

Margaret Loesch on her management style, and on being a female executive in the industry

Margaret Loesch on programming "family entertainment," and how what constitutes it has changed over time, and on The Simpsons and Modern Family

Margaret Loesch on advice to aspiring television executives

Margaret Loesch on advice to aspiring television executives and producers

Margaret Loesch on what she enjoyed doing most in her career

James L. Loper on becoming a programmer at KCET and gauging viewership

Sam Lovullo on breaking down a show from a business affairs standpoint

Nancy Malone on becoming the first female vice-president of a major studio at 20th Century Fox in 1977

Sig Mickelson on the duty of broadcast news to be objective, and on the public perception of broadcast news' integrity

Sig Mickelson on journalists having a professional code of ethics

Thomas W. Moore on his philosophy of program development, and on the process by which he picked television shows

Thomas W. Moore on using research as a tool for program scheduling and development

Thomas W. Moore on scheduling shows, and on considering demographics when programming and its impact on advertising

Thomas W. Moore on various programming techniques like mid-season replacements, and on various nights that were difficult for ABC

Thomas W. Moore on the importance of ratings to a programmer

Thomas W. Moore on the importance of promoting shows at ABC

Thomas W. Moore on dealing with the stars of his shows in ABC, and on how programming changed during his stint

Thomas W. Moore on what he enjoyed most about his time as an executive at ABC, and later being a producer

Thomas W. Moore on advice for an aspiring television executive

Thomas Murphy on working with affiliates and dealing with talent at ABC

Thomas Murphy on the demographics of ABC dealing with programming

Thomas Murphy on his instincts regarding programming at ABC

Thomas Murphy on his personal success in business 

Gareth Neame on what he learned at the BBC as an executive

Anne Nelson on being the first female CBS executive

Anne Nelson on negotiating talent contracts for CBS, and on how her department was organized

Anne Nelson on being promoted though the ranks of CBS business affairs, and eventually moving from radio to television

Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show

Anne Nelson on her style of negotiation, and on the challenges of being a female in business affairs in her era

Anne Nelson on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear

Anne Nelson on dealing with performers and contract disputes

Anne Nelson on dealing with unions and strikes

Anne Nelson on becoming director of talent administration at CBS, and on the retirement of Frank Stanton

Anne Nelson on being director of talent and program acquisition for CBS

Anne Nelson on the success of CBS during her tenure, and on working with Larry Tisch

Anne Nelson on being senior director of business affairs at CBS, starting in 1989, and later a vice president

Anne Nelson on advice to aspiring television executives, and on the then-current state of television

Lori Openden on differences between being a casting director and a network casting executive

Lori Openden on how involved NBC executives were with casting decisions when she was at the network, and on the then-current involvement of networks in casting

Lori Openden on not visiting sets much as a casting executive at NBC

Lori Openden on becoming a casting consultant and then executive at UPN

Lori Openden on her casting strategy at the CW

Lori Openden on a typical day for her as head of casting for the CW

Alan Perris on various local shows he programmed and his hiring process

Alan Perris on managing local stations budgets

Alan Perris on what he looks for when hiring staff

Alan Perris on advice to aspiring television executives

Frederick S. Pierce on his managerial style and the importance of having the right executives

Frederick S. Pierce on his promotion philosophy

Frederick S. Pierce on advice to aspiring television executives 

Ward Quaal on the demographics and audience of WGN

Ward Quaal on being appointed the head of WGN Continental Broadcasting in 1960, and on his management style in broadcasting

Ward Quaal on his book "Broadcast Management"

Ward Quaal on the establishment of The Ward L. Quaal Company

Ward Quaal on continuing to work, and on his great success at a television executive

Ward Quaal on what makes a good program and on the then-future of broadcasting

Ward Quaal on his most important decisions as an executive

Ward Quaal on the importance of the NAB and on career regrets

Ward Quaal on advice to aspiring television executives

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on the formation of ABC and on becoming general manager of ABC's Chicago station

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on why he was named general manager of ABC's Chicago station

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on building the local Chicago station WFLD

Sterling "Red" Quinlan on the best advice he was ever given

Sumner Redstone on purchasing Viacaom

Tim Reid on starting a studio in Petersburg, Virginia

Tim Reid on his business model for his Petersburg, Virginia studio and on owning a substantial amount of content

Tim Reid on launching LGCYTV.com, a streaming service designed by and for the African diaspora, during the COVID-19 pandemic and on fostering young talent

Lee Rich on his path to heading the media and programming departments at the advertising agency Benton & Bowles

Lee Rich on the role of producer versus that of advertising executive

Haim Saban on negotiations with Rupert Murdoch which led to the creation of Fox Kids Worldwide

Haim Saban on Fox Kids Worldwide buying International Family Entertainment (owner of The Family Channel), in an effort to compete with Nickelodeon, creating Fox Family Worldwide

Jay Sandrich on his admiration for Grant Tinker as an executive

Jay Sandrich on working with Grant Tinker, on the formation of MTM Enterprises, and his respect for him as an executive manager

Ted Sarandos on the executive team at Netflix, and on the fact that almost everyone on the executive team has greenlight power

Edgar Scherick on becoming head of network sales at ABC and then moving into head of programming

Edgar Scherick on his programming philosophy as head of ABC programming

Edgar Scherick on his most important contributions to ABC when he was a network executive

Edgar Scherick on advice to someone starting out in the business

Herbert S. Schlosser on his philosophy of programming

Herbert S. Schlosser on his day-to-day duties as president of NBC

Herbert S. Schlosser on his managerial style as a television executive

Herbert S. Schlosser on the qualities he looked for when hiring a television executive, and on how he'd like to be remembered

Herbert S. Schlosser on advice to an aspiring television executive

Alfred Schneider on the criticism he received over the course of his career and being the "conscience of the company"

Alfred Schneider on advice to aspiring Standards & Practices professionals

Alfred Schneider on advice to show creators in dealing with Standards & Practices professionals

Alfred Schneider on creating, with ABC Executive Jim Stabile, what may have been the very first television package deal -- for The Danny Thomas Show

Alfred Schneider on working in Standards & Practices at ABC

Reese Schonfeld on his management style

Reese Schonfeld on what makes a good news story

Reese Schonfeld on objectivity in news reporting

Reese Schonfeld on various changes and executive decisions he made at CNN during his tenure there

Reese Schonfeld on advice to someone who wants to start a cable network

Joe Sedelmaier on creating commercials for Texaco Super Unleaded and the process of casting commercials 

Joe Sedelmaier on his style

Joe Sedelmaier on advice to aspiring advertising professionals 

Esther Shapiro on her role as an Executive in ABC's miniseries department

Esther Shapiro on becoming Senior Vice-President at Aaron Spelling Productions

Sid Sheinberg on advice to aspiring television executives

Fred Silverman on CBS president Frank Stanton's initial resistance to the first incarnation of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Fred Silverman on the success of The Waltons, and on "going out in style" if the show hadn't worked, and on how The Waltons and All In The Family were, each in their own way, both about the "sanctity of the family"

Fred Silverman on keeping tabs on the other networks as president of ABC Entertainment, and on staying true the tastes of the audience tuning in to ABC

Chet Simmons on how NBC Sports compared to ABC Sports at the time circa 1964, and on losing the rights to NCAA Basketball

Chet Simmons on his duties as vice president of NBC Sports

Chet Simmons on philosophy regarding sports programming

Chet Simmons on changes he brought about as president of NBC News, and on dealing with the Olympics

Chet Simmons on the gentlemanly competition among networks for broadcast rights of sporting events during his tenure at NBC Sports

Chet Simmons on hiring ex-athletes for the broadcast booth

Chet Simmons on his management style

Chet Simmons on the atmosphere he created at ESPN during his tenure, and on his negotiation style

Chet Simmons on sports analysis programming at ESPN

Chet Simmons on advice to an aspiring sports executive

Frank Stanton on his day-to-day duties as the President of CBS

Frank Stanton on the people who followed him as CBS President

Frank Stanton on the creative aspects of being an executive

Frank Stanton on his most important decision at CBS, and on the then-future of broadcasting

Frank Stanton on how he feels looking back over his time at CBS, and his hopes for the then-future of the network

Brandon Stoddard on teaching development

Brandon Stoddard on his stint as President of ABC Entertainment 

Brandon Stoddard on his guiding philosophy of development

Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on his management style

Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on negotiating a deal

Donald L. Taffner, Sr. on advice to aspiring television executives

William Tankersley on becoming the Director of Program Practices at CBS Television City

William Tankersley on being promoted to Vice President of Program Practices at CBS, moving to New York, and dealing with advertisers

Nina Tassler on her responsibilities as Vice President, Drama Development at Warner Bros. Television

Nina Tassler on her responsibilities and duties as President of CBS Entertainment and Chairman of CBS Entertainment

Nina Tassler on what she looks for when hearing a pitch for a television show

Nina Tassler on advice to aspiring television executives 

Grant Tinker on ad agencies breeding future television executives

Grant Tinker on leaving MTM to become Chairman of NBC

Grant Tinker on his theory on broadcasting

Ted Turner on the birth of CNN

Ted Turner on the budgetary constraints on forming CNN

Dean Valentine on the differences between working on the network side as a buyer, and on the studio side as a seller

Dean Valentine on his position and his responsibilities at NBC

Dean Valentine on his philosophy for family and children's programming

Dean Valentine on his frustrations as president of UPN, and on the Paramount/Viacom deal

Dean Valentine on programming ABC's TGIF Friday nights, and on Boy Meets World

Dean Valentine on advice to an aspiring television executive and to a creator of programming

Jac Venza on becoming director of culture and arts programs at PBS

Susan Whiting on her rise from working in sales to becoming CEO of Nielsen

Susan Whiting on a typical work week for her as Vice-Chairman of Nielsen; on how her role has evolved over the years

Susan Whiting on her management style

Susan Whiting on being a female executive in the media world

Susan Whiting on advice to aspiring Research Executives

Lauren Zalaznick on completely rebranding VH1

Lauren Zalaznick on her programming strategy for VH1

Lauren Zalaznick on programming the Trio network

Lauren Zalaznick on the challenge of building on the success of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy as head of Bravo, and on shows she programmed early in her tenure there

Lauren Zalaznick on creating a marketing strategy when she started at Bravo, and on creating the logo

Lauren Zalaznick on the importance of casting strong personalities for Bravo's reality programming, and "fake" reality

Lauren Zalaznick on the importance of passion for one's occupation on Bravo's reality shows

Lauren Zalaznick on the Bravo audience demographics

Lauren Zalaznick on how Bravo's brand stands apart

Lauren Zalaznick on programming scripted series for Bravo

Lauren Zalaznick on what she feels is her biggest contribution to Bravo

Lauren Zalaznick on the challenges of taking over Telemundo, and bringing the World Cup to the network

Lauren Zalaznick on heading up the Oxygen network, and on The Bad Girls Club

Lauren Zalaznick on being President of NBC/Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks

Lauren Zalaznick on targeting women as a demographic as President of NBC/Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks

Lauren Zalaznick on her favorite parts and biggest challenges of her jobs at NBC/Universal

Lauren Zalaznick on what she has loved most about television and her jobs in it

Lauren Zalaznick on valuable advice she has received, and on her advice to aspiring television executives

Frederic Ziv on his role as President of his company

Jeff Zucker on his management style as Executive Producer at Today

Jeff Zucker on the job responsibilities of being the President of NBC Entertainment

Jeff Zucker on dealing with shows that fail, and knowing when to take a show off the air

Jeff Zucker on his management style as the CEO of NBC Universal Television Group

Jeff Zucker on advice to aspiring television producers and executives