Disney-owned ABC has appointed Starz exec Susan Lewis as head of drama development at its newly formed ABC Signature production arm. She replaces Patrick Maguire, who had been with ABC owner Disney for almost two decades. He had been promoted in 2018 to become SVP of drama development at ABC Studios, which which was merged […]
Disney-owned 20th Century Fox TV has appointed producer Jennifer Gwartz as its EVP of development for comedy and drama. Gwartz will oversee scripted development of live-action content and will work with the studio’s comedy and drama development teams on programming. She was most recently working at Random Hill Productions, the outfit she launched with Jon […]
ABC Studios has appointed Melanie Frankel to oversee its comedy output, replacing Amy Hartwick who stepped down over the summer. Frankel was previously VP of current series for ABC Studios and now becomes head of comedy, working across the company’s slate of shows. The exec previously worked in comedy development for ABC Studios until 2011, […]
ABC Studios’ alternative division chief Fernando Hernandez is to leave the company, according to US reports. Hernandez is a former head of alternative at Universal TV and took on a similar role to set up the division at ABC Studios in 2017, joining under former chief Patrick Moran. The latter left ABC earlier this summer […]
Disney’s president of global content sales and distribution Janice Marinelli (pictured), who has been with the company for more than 30 years, is stepping down from her position. Marinelli was most recently overseeing US and international programme sales for the Mouse House, as well as distribution of its direct-to-consumer apps to platforms and networks around […]
US broadcaster ABC has effectively cancelled The Mayor, its in-house sitcom about an unconventional political leader. The show was due to return after the holiday season in its Tuesday 9.30pm slot, but has been pulled from the schedule, with a Modern Family re-run replacing it. The Hollywood Reporter has reported producers will attempt the revive […]
The Walt Disney Company is looking to cut around 10% of annual costs at its Disney-ABC Television arm, potentially affecting 300 jobs. The ABC US broadcast network, production arm ABC Studios and ABC News are expected to take the biggest hits, with cable channels ABC News, Freeform and Disney Channel also affected. The Wall Street […]
American presenter Ryan Seacrest has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios. Under terms of the pact, Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP) will develop exclusive scripted projects for TV networks and on-demand platforms within the studios arm of US broadcaster ABC. RSP was previously housed at CBS Television Studios. Seacrest recently signed up to co-host a […]
ITV Studios America (ITVSA) has hired USA Networks’ Jed Valdecantos and ABC Studios’ Jim Dietle. Valdecantos has been named VP of scripted TV development, while Dietle become VP of business and legal affairs. ITVSA, the LA-based scripted arm of UK broadcaster ITV’s production wing, ITV Studios, has been building out its team. It recently hired […]
The makers of Downward Dog are searching for new owners of the US network comedy after broadcaster ABC decided to cancel it. Samm Hodges and Michael Killen on Friday released a statement via Twitter that revealed the “surprising news” ABC was not moving forwards on the show due to financial reasons. This comes after the […]
