Gaspin Rules Unified Roost
By Mike Reynolds & Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 2/18/2007 7:00:00 PM
In an environment favoring links between the linear and digital realms, it's good to have content and distribution under one roof.
So says Jeff Gaspin, who last week, after Jeff Zucker's ascension to NBC Universal CEO, added distribution direction to his responsibilities over content across myriad platforms.
Zucker, who succeeded Peacock Network veteran Bob Wright two weeks ago, has tapped Gaspin to lead a single organization with combined oversight of the media company's cable content and distribution.
“Today more so than ever, you have to be able to react quickly, to be nimble,” Gaspin said last week, after being promoted to president of NBCU Cable and Digital Content. “Having a simplified structure allows you to do that.”
NBCU in recent months has reached accords with DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and the National Cable Television Cooperative, among others, on a variety of properties. Its former distribution president, David Zaslav, left to become CEO of Discovery Communications; his NBCU lieutenant, Bridget Baker, was promoted to president of NBCU Television Networks distribution after he left.
“I've been working closely with Bridget for the past four years,” Gaspin noted. “There are always deals coming up, but they have sewn up many over the last 24 months. We're in good shape.”
Next to launch: Chiller, a horror service, slated to debut March 1 in 12 million DirecTV homes.
While he wouldn't specify any new networks, Gaspin said the “idea of just relying on cable and satellite distribution is gone.”
Chiller and crime-and-mystery service Sleuth, now in 26 million cable and satellite homes, have broadband, video-on-demand and high-definition components.
“Our business plan is to keep costs low, which is different than some companies,” Gaspin, who had been president of cable entertainment, digital content and cross-network strategy, also said. “We tap into the library content that is available to us and create new services.”
He expects to see high-definition premium services like Universal HD Theater, which offers an array of programming from across NBC and its cable holdings, rise along with the spread of HDTV sets.
HD versions of USA Network and Sci Fi Channel will launch later this year, he confirmed.
In addition to Baker, USA and Sci Fi president Bonnie Hammer, Bravo president Lauren Zalaznick, senior vice president emerging networks Dan Harrison and Vivi Zigler, who leads NBC Digital Entertainment and New Media, continue to report to Gaspin. President of digital distribution Jean-Briac Perrette will report to both Gaspin and chief digital officer George Kliavkoff.
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
