or


[07/27/09 - 06:07 AM]
Jeff Gaspin Expands Duties with Promotion to Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment
He'll replace Ben Silverman, who is returning to his entrepreneurial roots to form a new venture.

[via press release from NBC]

JEFF GASPIN EXPANDS DUTIES WITH PROMOTION TO CHAIRMAN, NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - July 27, 2009 - Jeff Gaspin has been named Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment, effective immediately. This move expands his role to now include oversight of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, in addition to all of his current duties. This new structure will consolidate all of the company's television entertainment assets, both broadcast and cable, English and Spanish, under one roof and will better allow the company to leverage its content across all of those properties.

Gaspin already has management responsibility for the company's portfolio of entertainment cable networks, including USA, SyFy, Bravo, Oxygen, Universal HD, Sleuth, and Chiller, as well as its interests in the A&E and History networks. In addition, Gaspin oversees the company's television distribution, including linear, digital and wireless, off-net syndication and first-run efforts, as well as the Telemundo broadcast network and its owned stations.

Ben Silverman, who has been Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, has announced that he is returning to his entrepreneurial roots to form a new venture. He will remain in his current role for several weeks to assist in the launch of NBC's fall schedule. Marc Graboff, who has also been Co-Chairman, will continue as Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, reporting to Gaspin.

These announcements were made today by Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal, to whom Gaspin reports.

Said Zucker: "Jeff Gaspin is an extraordinary media professional who has had an incredible record of success in his 25 years in the business. He's a strong creative executive who also has the business acumen necessary to succeed in today's media environment. This new structure helps us align all of our television entertainment assets under one veteran executive at a time when continued innovation is essential."

Zucker added: "Ben Silverman has many exciting things he wants to accomplish and we applaud him as he sets off on his new endeavors. Ben brought us tremendous new thinking in this changing media age, and we're grateful for that. Now, we look forward to working with him in his new venture."

"I can't think of a more important time to take on this expanded role. Our industry is going through one of the most profound changes in history and I look forward to using all that I have learned to help build the NBC Universal assets through this period of unprecedented evolution," said Gaspin. "NBC remains one of the strongest brands in television and I am excited to work with the talented executives at the network and Universal Media Studios."

Under the new structure, the cable and distribution executives who currently report to Gaspin will continue to do so. They include Bonnie Hammer (President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions), Lauren Zalaznick (President, NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks), Barry Wallach (President, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution), Bridget Baker (President, TV Networks Distribution, NBC Universal), Don Browne (President, Telemundo) and J.B Perrette (President, Digital and Affiliate Distribution and Content Distribution Strategy).

The cable entertainment group, which includes Bravo, Chiller, Oxygen, Syfy, Sleuth, Universal HD and the USA Network, has experienced dynamic change under Gaspin's leadership. In 2007, the group acquired Oxygen, and in 2008, sold its interest in the Sundance Channel and established the Universal Cable Productions television studio, further bolstering the company's commitment to a strong cable portfolio. Each channel broke ratings records in 2008 and revenues and profits have exhibited double-digit growth under Gaspin's watch.

Previously, Gaspin had served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Universal Television Group since February 2007. Under Gaspin, the NBC Universal entertainment cable division posted its strongest performance ever. And with Gaspin being an early proponent of online streaming video, traffic to all of the television group's entertainment websites more than doubled. Prior to that, Gaspin served as President of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Network Strategy since 2004, adding digital content to his responsibilities in November 2005.

In December 2002, Gaspin was named president of Bravo, where he guided the day-to-day operation, programming, and marketing when the network was acquired by NBC. Among his accomplishments are "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," which was Bravo's highest-rated show in its 23-year history, and "Project Runway," which continued to break ratings records for Bravo. He also brought Kathy Griffin to Bravo, where she's starred in the two-time Emmy-winning "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List." Under Gaspin's direction in 2003, Bravo increased its subscriber base from 68 million to 80 million and more than doubled revenue and profits.

Gaspin - who had earlier worked at NBC - restarted his NBC career in March 2001 as Executive Vice President, Alternative Series, Longform, Specials and Program Strategy, where he led the network's unscripted programming division, specials, movies and mini-series. In that role, he developed the hit NBC programs "Deal or No Deal," "The Apprentice" and "Biggest Loser."

Prior to rejoining NBC, Gaspin served as Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, at VH1, where he created the acclaimed program "Behind the Music" for which he was nominated for two Emmys. Under Gaspin - who joined the channel in 1996 - VH1's ratings more than doubled and its profits increased fivefold. He was responsible for overall programming strategies, as well as program development, production, acquisition, scheduling, on-air talent, news and studio operations. Also developed under his watch were "Divas Live" and the hit series "Pop-up Video," "Rock and Roll Jeopardy," "Storytellers" and "Before They Were Rock Stars."

During his first nine years at NBC, as vice president of Programming and Development, Gaspin helped develop and launch "Dateline NBC." Prior to that, he was responsible for the expansion of the "Today" franchise to seven days. Gaspin started his career at NBC in finance, serving as Director of Financial Planning for NBC News and overseeing production finance for "Late Night with David Letterman," "Saturday Night Live" and NBC's TV stations division.

Gaspin received the GE Chairman's Overall Leadership Award for 2008 and the GE Leadership Award in the Imagination category for his work on Bravo and NBC in 2003. Gaspin also serves on the boards of the A&E Television Networks, The Paley Center for Media, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and NBC Universal.

In addition, he was recognized with a Vision Award from Jewish Television Network in 2008 and was included in CableFAX's 2008 Power List. Gaspin was also featured in Entertainment Weekly's 2003 Power issue as a rising executive and in 1999, New York Magazine voted him one of the top most influential New Yorkers.

Gaspin holds an M.B.A. in strategic planning from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Karen, their sons, Max and Ben, and their daughter, Samantha.





  [july 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)
· BIGGEST LOSER, THE (USA)
· DATELINE NBC (NBC)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (CNBC)
· KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST (BRAVO)
· PROJECT RUNWAY (FREEFORM)
· QUEER EYE (BRAVO)





[05/21/26 - 12:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This June
Highlights include the return of "House of the Dragon" and the debut of "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness."

[05/21/26 - 11:00 AM]
A24's "How to Make a Killing" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 19
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.

[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Hannah Berner: None of My Business"
Hannah Berner delivers her most vulnerable material yet - questioning her future, exposing her unorthodox career path, dishing dating secrets and admitting she's "part-time hot" in this sensational sophomore special.

[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World)" Debuts June 7
Acclaimed producer, director, and musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson tells the story of the legendary nine-time Grammy Award-winning band.

[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
The Tony Awards to Feature Showstopping Performances by All of the Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical Nominees
Additional performances will be announced in the coming weeks.

[05/21/26 - 09:02 AM]
HBO Max Announces the Debut of HBO Original "House of the Dragon" with American Sign Language (ASL) to Mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Season one with ASL will debut on May 29, followed by season two on June 15.

[05/21/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Trailer and Key Art for All-New Season of Fan-Favorite Mystery Thriller "Harry Wild" Premiering Monday, June 22 on Acorn TV
Season five marks a highly anticipated on-screen reunion between Jane Seymour, who stars and executive produces, and Joe Lando, her longtime co-star from the beloved Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."

[05/21/26 - 08:16 AM]
"Emily in Paris" Begins Production in Greece for the 6th and Final Season
Since its debut in 2020, Seasons 1-5 have spent 32 weeks on the Netflix Global Top 10 list, reached #1 in 90 countries, and accumulated over 250 million views.

[05/21/26 - 08:02 AM]
ID Explores the Dark Reality Behind Viral "Pearadise" Community in New Docuseries - "Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise" Premieres Wednesday, June 10 from 8-11PM ET/PT
In 2020, a social media-driven community known as "Pearadise" began gaining attention online, positioning itself as a space dedicated to sisterhood and body positivity for plus-size women.

[05/21/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Untold UK: Vinnie Jones" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This is the story of Vinnie Jones' rise, fall and comeback against odds - and red cards - from one of football's most notorious hard men to FA cup winner.

[05/21/26 - 07:30 AM]
"Jackass" Returns to Paramount+
Seasons 1-3 return to Paramount+ today in restored original versions - bringing fans closer than ever to the episodes as they first aired, or were originally intended to air, by Johnny Knoxville and the original creative team.

[05/21/26 - 07:01 AM]
NBC Sports' 2026 SuperMotocross Coverage Delivers Viewership Gains and Milestones
The seven races featured on NBC and Peacock averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 468,000 viewers on NBC and Peacock, up 8% vs. 2025.

[05/21/26 - 07:00 AM]
Presenters Announced for "The 52nd American Music Awards," Monday, May 25 on CBS
Alysa Liu, Anthony Ramos, EJAE, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah the Scientist, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, REI AMI, Russell Dickerson and more will present.

[05/21/26 - 06:30 AM]
Don't Answer the Phone. "Scream 7" Slashes Its Way to Paramount+ on May 28
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target.

[05/21/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
To end the war, Aang must master earthbending - but in the Earth Kingdom, politics, secrets and hidden alliances are a battlefield of their own.