JENNIFER SALKE NAMED PRESIDENT OF NBC ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- July 13, 2011 -- Jennifer Salke has been named President of NBC Entertainment, effective immediately, it was announced by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.

"There is no one in the television business more perfect for this job than Jennifer Salke," said Greenblatt. "I've known and worked with her for many years and have the utmost respect for her creative instincts, her relationships with talent of all kinds, and probably most of all, her taste. Her incredible tenure at Twentieth Century Fox Television (TCFTV), where she was instrumental in developing two of network television's biggest hits, 'Glee' and 'Modern Family,' is unmatched. This is truly a significant moment for NBC as we continue to rebuild the network from top to bottom and put together the best possible team."

Salke will report to Greenblatt and will be responsible for Primetime and Daytime programming, with Drama Development, Comedy Development, Current Programming, and the Casting department of NBC Entertainment reporting to her.

"I can't express how excited I am to be joining Bob at NBC and to be joining a company with the breadth and vision of Comcast," said Salke. "I've known Bob well for many years and have admired him both professionally and personally. I believe together, we will foster a creative and successful environment at NBC. This is an incredible opportunity and one I look forward to with great passion and excitement.

"I'm leaving a company, in TCFTV, where I have extremely deep ties. (Chairmen) Dana (Walden) and Gary (Newman) have been incredible bosses, mentors, and friends for nearly 10 years. I'm grateful for the time I spent working and learning under them. It has been that rare experience where I've been fulfilled both in my work there and in my relationships with people who will be lifetime friends."

The relationship between NBC and TCFTV took a significant step forward this year with TCFTV supplying two of NBC's most high-profile, new one-hour series for the 2011-12 season: "The Playboy Club," which premieres September 19, and "Awake," which will premiere in mid-season. Both series were also developed by Salke and were accelerated when Greenblatt came to NBC in late January. Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen of TCFTV, have always advocated strong ties with NBC and that will continue to grow with Salke now becoming the buyer.

Salke's incredible run at TCFTV is highlighted by her development and championing of "Glee" and "Modern Family" in one season. Both shows are rare hits that connect with critics and audiences, winning multiple Emmys and Golden Globes as well as winning their time periods in the coveted adult 18-49 demo by large margins. "Raising Hope" for FBC is another recent success during Salke's tenure as Executive Vice President of Creative Affairs, a post she's held since 2006.

Salke leaves TCFTV at a very prolific time in which it sold highly anticipated new shows to several networks, including comedies such as "The New Girl" for FBC and both "Apartment 23" and Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing" for ABC, as well as the long-awaited "Terra Nova" for Fox. She was also involved in the development of "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy's next big project, "American Horror Story," for FX.

Salke began at TCFTV as Senior Vice President of Drama Development in 2002 and was instrumental in the creation of several hits, including the long-running "Bones" and "Prison Break." She began her career at the venerable Aaron Spelling Productions in the early 1990s, when she first worked with Greenblatt (who was then at FBC) on such seminal series as the original "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Melrose Place," among the many other series Spelling produced at that time. After nearly a decade at Spelling, she was named head of Drama Development at Sony Pictures Television in 2001, a short-lived stint that ended prematurely when Sony temporarily shut down the studio and re-configured operations. She began her successful career at 20th Century Fox Television shortly thereafter.