Former WB Network chairman Garth Ancier has been named president of BBC Worldwide Americas' U.S. operations, part of a corporate restructure that will bring all of the company's U.S. activity under the leadership of one person.
In the newly created post, Ancier will be responsible for developing the BBC brand in the U.S., including expanding BBC Worldwide's portfolio of channels, which includes the flagship cable channel BBC America, now in more than 53 million homes. Management also has expressed a desire to expand its BBC World news channel in the U.S. (it's now in about 2 million homes) and to launch a preschool kids channel and a high-definition channel.
Ancier also will work with U.S. networks on behalf of Los Angeles-based BBC Worldwide Prods. to produce shows and formats. The company's credits include such unscripted shows as ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want." It also is a producer on three scripted pilots in contention for fall 2007 -- "Viva Laughlin!" (CBS), "The Thick of It" (ABC) and "I'm With Stupid" (NBC) -- and recently signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television.
In addition, Ancier will manage BBC Worldwide's U.S. TV and video sales business and oversee the introduction of the company's Web-based program delivery system, bbc.com, which is in the process of approval.
In the newly created post, Ancier will be responsible for developing the BBC brand in the U.S., including expanding BBC Worldwide's portfolio of channels, which includes the flagship cable channel BBC America, now in more than 53 million homes. Management also has expressed a desire to expand its BBC World news channel in the U.S. (it's now in about 2 million homes) and to launch a preschool kids channel and a high-definition channel.
Ancier also will work with U.S. networks on behalf of Los Angeles-based BBC Worldwide Prods. to produce shows and formats. The company's credits include such unscripted shows as ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want." It also is a producer on three scripted pilots in contention for fall 2007 -- "Viva Laughlin!" (CBS), "The Thick of It" (ABC) and "I'm With Stupid" (NBC) -- and recently signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television.
In addition, Ancier will manage BBC Worldwide's U.S. TV and video sales business and oversee the introduction of the company's Web-based program delivery system, bbc.com, which is in the process of approval.
- 2/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC has handed out pilot orders to Kevin Falls' sci-fi drama Journeyman and to suburban one-hour The Watch from There's Something About Mary writers Ed Decter and John J. Strauss.
Additionally, the network has lifted the contingency on three comedy pilots: I'm With Stupid, The IT Crowd and "Kath & Kim."
Journeyman, from 20th Century Fox TV, has received a cast-contingent order. It is an epic romantic fantasy about a man who travels back in time to alter and fix the lives of people in trouble, but by recalibrating the past, he sometimes affects the future.
Emmy winner Falls (NBC's The West Wing) is the writer/executive producer. The project originally was picked up by NBC in August with a put pilot commitment (HR 8/21).
The Watch, from Sony Pictures TV and Pariah, revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group gone awry.
Decter and Strauss, whose credits also include the two Santa Clause sequels, are executive producing with Pariah's Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses.
I'm With Stupid, The IT Crowd and "Kath & Kim" were given cast-contingent pilot orders in November (HR 11/9).
Additionally, the network has lifted the contingency on three comedy pilots: I'm With Stupid, The IT Crowd and "Kath & Kim."
Journeyman, from 20th Century Fox TV, has received a cast-contingent order. It is an epic romantic fantasy about a man who travels back in time to alter and fix the lives of people in trouble, but by recalibrating the past, he sometimes affects the future.
Emmy winner Falls (NBC's The West Wing) is the writer/executive producer. The project originally was picked up by NBC in August with a put pilot commitment (HR 8/21).
The Watch, from Sony Pictures TV and Pariah, revolves around a suburban neighborhood watch group gone awry.
Decter and Strauss, whose credits also include the two Santa Clause sequels, are executive producing with Pariah's Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses.
I'm With Stupid, The IT Crowd and "Kath & Kim" were given cast-contingent pilot orders in November (HR 11/9).
- 1/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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