Big breaking news this morning is that Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios is leaving the company to start a new multimedia production company at IAC.
Who is Ben Silverman? He is a successful agent turned producer turned network head. His specialty has been adapting international TV formats in the US. This is not necessarily the easiest thing. Remember Coupling? Silverman’s two biggest successes are The Office (which started slowly, but was saved after Steve Carrell’s success in the 40 Year Old Virgin and the sale of its reruns on iTunes) and Ugly Betty (which was very successful in many different markets, and had Hollywood star Salma Hayak as one of its producers). In fact, rumors had linked Silverman to running the UK network ITV.
Shows launched by Silverman at NBC weren’t that successful. Kath and Kim, which was adapted from a show in Austrailia was a flop. But there were also quality shows launched on his watch that just didn’t get an audience like Life and Kings. There were also victims of the Writers Strike like Journeyman. At least Chuck is living on for another year.
This fall, NBC is stipping Jay Leno at 10PM on Monday through Friday, removing 1/3 of its prime time lineup. If it fails or succeeds, who gets the credit? Silverman is gone, perhaps at the right time.
