This must be like Christmas for our friends at Vulture: They’re reporting (and the New York Times is confirming) that their longtime nemesis (the co-chairman of NBC Universal Entertainment) Ben Silverman is leaving NBC to start a new venture with Barry Diller. According to Ryan Seacrest, who first tweeted the news, “This means better shows from our favorite stars in U.S. and around the world…I think this means household names our favorite stars will get involved. Putting. The power in ur hands to watch anything anywhere anytime.”
Silverman’s previous company Reveille, is responsible for The Office and The Biggest Loser; he was also very involved with Jay Leno’s upcoming prime time show. Vulture reports that Seacrest is Silverman’s his first hire, which explains the scoop. Silverman has likened the new company to “Warner Bros. meets BBDO.”
According to Gawker’s Richard Lawson, this is bad news for Silverman’s career: “His departure is being spun as a resignation, but it looks a lot like Silverman was pushed. His two-year contract recently expired and the gig that he has lined up — running something for Barry Diller’s IAC — sounds like deal slapped together in a hurry.” What do you think?
Comments (2)
What do I think you ask? Well, I think there is a whole boat load of hot air surrounding this situation. Personally, I liked the energy, both positive and negative, that Silverman seemed to pull out of people. Even though NBC remains in the doldrums, I believe he infused enough creativity to give it a fair shot down the line. After all, this fall's lineup is his making.
Over on my site I waxed poetic about NBC of today and yesterday in the wake of this new change at the top. Check it out if you like, even if you don't like (there's an awesome NBC promo there):
http://www.candlerblog.com/2009/07/28/ben-silverm…
This is really interesting. Looks like advertising is finding a new way to survive. Looks like IAC will have competition right out of the gate. Intertainment Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is also using the concept of advertising driven content. Check out this latest story: http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/…
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