The Business of Television : Steve McPherson

Kimmel Quips as ABC Touts Power of Broadcast TV to Ad Buyers

News — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:33:00 GMT

Like Fox on Monday, ABC on Tuesday went before advertisers and media buyers to pitch the mighty power of broadcast TV and show off some of the new shows that will be on its fall schedule. “Television is the strongest advertising medium available today...(read more)

ABC's Main Man McPherson

News — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Steve McPherson is fired up. Along with the rest of the TV industry, Mr. McPherson, president of the ABC Entertainment Group, has struggled through tough times during the past 18 months. He’s had to try to develop new hits while slogging through the twin...(read more)

ABC Gives 'Life on Mars' a Finale

News — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:13:07 GMT

ABC is giving fans of "Life on Mars" some closure. The network has told producers that it won't be ordering any additional episodes beyond the 17 currently in the works for this season. But rather than play the usual "Let's-wait...(read more)

ABC's ‘Bachelor’ Set for Re-Up After Ratings Bounce

News — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:32:59 GMT

“The Bachelor” is hot. Thanks to compelling casting and some timely production changes, ABC and Warner Horizon TV’s long-running dating show franchise is experiencing an almost unprecedented ratings resurgence this season. Reversing a Nielsen slide that...(read more)

ABC Cuts Jobs Across the Board

News — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:14:52 GMT

In another sign of how the struggling economy is affecting the television business, ABC on Wednesday announced that it was cutting jobs across the board. Layoffs had already quietly begun at the company, insiders said. In all, about 200 people are expected...(read more)

ABC’s McPherson Wants More Sitcoms

News — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:57:29 GMT

ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson said he’d like to expand the network’s comedy portfolio by adding more traditional sitcoms to its programming mix. The network once dominated the comedy space with meat-and-potatoes half-hours such as “Roseanne...(read more)

Column: What to Get the Exec Who Has Everything

News — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:50:00 GMT

Tis the season for year-end columns—and all the cliches that come with them. Including, apparently, lead sentences that begin with “‘tis the season.” Lists, of course, are always a staple of columns this time of year. Coming up with New Year’s resolutions...(read more)

ABC, ABC Studios Feeling Urge to Merge?

News — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:52:37 GMT

With NBC moving to consolidate its network and studio operations, industry insiders are beginning to buzz about the possibility of other potential mergers—and there’s a growing consensus that ABC might be next. Knowledgeable sources inside Disney and...(read more)

Adalian Column: 'Black Thursday' Hits ABC Dramas Hard

News — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

For anyone who loves television, Nov. 20 may go down in the industry history books as Black Thursday. On that date, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson was forced to call the producers of three outstanding young drama series and tell them that...(read more)

ABC Brings Back 'Wipeout' for 2nd Season

News — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:31:06 GMT

ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson has made good on his promise to renew summer hit “Wipeout” for a second season. “I think there’s no question it’s going to go forward,” Mr. McPherson said last month during the TV Critics Association press tour...(read more)

TCA Video: McPherson Upbeat About Fall

News — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:50:55 GMT

ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson says the upcoming fall season will be important in getting viewers back to watching TV after the writers strike. Mr. McPherson sat down with TVWeek deputy editor and columnist Josef Adalian at the Television...(read more)

ABC Adds to 'Wipeout' Run

News — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:42:38 GMT

File under “duh”: ABC will be ordering more episodes of its summer game show hit “Wipeout.” “I think there's no question it's going to go forward,” ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson said Wednesday at the network's TCA press tour...(read more)

McPherson Says 'Scrubs' May Live On

News — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:24:20 GMT

“Scrubs” might not be headed into its final season after all. When ABC picked up the comedy from NBC in May, the assumption was that the show would complete one valedictory season, and then call it quits. But ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson...(read more)

ABC Would Be Happy to Have Leno and Kimmel

News — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:28:04 GMT

Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel can peacefully co-exist at ABC. That's the word from ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson, who Wednesday told reporters there's no reason Mr. Leno and Mr. Kimmel can't share the same network. NBC has confirmed...(read more)