ABC President Resigns

[Sarangel]

From a variety of sources:

Capping an almost comically tumultuous two weeks inside America's most troubled TV network, ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne resigned after being told her role at the network would be diminished.

ABC was expected to announce late Tuesday- as part of an overall restructuring at the network- that she will be replaced by Steve McPherson, the veteran chief of Disney's TV production house, Touchstone.

Lyne's surprisingly messy departure follows weeks of roiling speculation - all it played out in water-torture style in the press - over the future replacement of her colleague, ABC Entertainment chairman, Lloyd Braun. He cleaned out his office earlier this month. But appointed president just over two years ago, Lyne was expected to survive the upheaval.

Nevertheless, it remained unclear - not particularly unusual at Disney these days - whether Lyne was actually fired or walked. She has presided over a deteriorating schedule that has been brutalized by Fox's mega-hit, "American Idol." Meanwhile, most observers believe the problems at ABC were not of Lyne's making but the result of a top-heavy management structure at Disney that tended to befuddle the network.

One top network producer called Braun and Lyne "incredibly talented people working in a business that's all about trying to find one hit. But the biggest thing is just how drawn out and confusing this has been when you need to know what the hell [ABC] is doing."

ABC will announce a new fall schedule in just about two weeks.

Why am I reminded of Rats & Sinking Ships???

Sarangel

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"Susan Lyne resigned after being told her role at the network would be diminished."***

Wonder why her boss couldn't take the same hint.

 

[dcentity2000]

Being English, I have little or no idea of the state of ABC. Over here we have the BBC which seems to have managed to assimilate every TV niche possible and in doing so establish it's name absolutely EVERYWHERE. I'll stop before I start rambling.

It strikes me that there seems to be a little too much boss-swapping going on. When a company stats to fail it's all too easy to blame the CEO - s/he's at the top, s/he should know, should be able to fix it, rha rha rha...

But maybe ABC should take a little time, take stock, then invite someone in and KEEP them for a while. Cures don't work overnight y'know.



Rich::

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Bob Iger talked about how they wanted to keep Lyne around for a while. To give her a chance to get settled and turn the network around. Looks like Eisner got impatient.

In my opinion there is not enough CEO blaming, especially in Disney's case. Eisner just doesn't seem to take any of the heat for ABC.

 

[dcentity2000]

Originally posted by OnWithTheShow
In my opinion there is not enough CEO blaming, especially in Disney's case. Eisner just doesn't seem to take any of the heat for ABC.

[mischief] Isn't that what you've been doing for the last month/s? Along with everyone else who's jumped on the bandwagon? [/mischief]



Rich::

 

[ohanafamily]

Originally posted by dcentity2000
Being English, I have little or no idea of the state of ABC. Over here we have the BBC which seems to have managed to assimilate every TV niche possible and in doing so establish it's name absolutely EVERYWHERE. I'll stop before I start rambling.

If my memory serves me, the BBC is part of (if not heavily funded by) the government. With the subsidies, it has become a Monopoly in Britain.

Personally, I miss Dr. Who...

BTW, ABC has Alias! I don't think she was given a chanche either, and Ei$ner is on a witch hunt to cast blame away from himself. I hope she gets a good severance package.....

 

[manning]

Is Eisner is in a panic state? If he is good. He'll then tend to make more mistakes, and hopefully enough to get booted!!!

 

[Another Voice]

Deckchairs.
'Titanic'
Fill in the rest.


Here are other quotes from today's industry sources:

Her [ABC Cable Networks President Anne Sweeney] appointment raised eyebrows within the industry, since it had been expected that the company would look to someone on the outside with a solid track record as a top-flight programmer to man the rudder of the fourth-place network. In an interview with today's (Wednesday) Los Angeles Times, Disney President Robert Iger acknowledged that he had pursued other candidates for the job.

The newspaper [The Los Angeles Times] quoted one unnamed source as saying that "Disney won't be able to bring someone in from the outside and really change things as long as Bob Iger [has a direct hand in making creative decisions]."

Just last month Iger had told an investors conference: "I believe in Susan strongly, and I think she has the goods to turn [the network] around."

Several analysts were scratching their heads over [Stephen] McPherson's promotion, since at Touchstone TV, he had developed and was in charge of production of many of the shows that had flopped on the network.


There is, in fact, still far too little CEO-bashing going on. Disney was protected in the early years of Eisner's tyranny by a large group of hard working and talented people. They were the ones responsible for the success of the company and served to block Eisner's instincts.

But Eisner drove away anyone with ability and now he's left running the show himself and with his handpicks sycophants. It's one disaster after another after another after another.

 

[BRERALEX]

But Eisner drove away anyone with ability and now he's left running the show himself and with his handpicks sycophants. It's one disaster after another after another after another.

So what you're saying is all we have is a fools hope?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Titanic
fools hope

How about A Ship of Fools?

 

[BRERALEX]

How about A Ship of Fools?

i like it!! but my problem is I no longer can tell who the fools are us or them.

 

[dcentity2000]

Although a vocal supporter of M. Eisner and his averaged contribution to the current state of play at Disney, I shall admit to his interesting reputation as being just slightly volatile... three key points stick out in my mind:

1) Eisner sat through the original Alien Encounter, reportedly without flinching, with an affronted look on his face. On his way out he declared it to be far too cute and that there be more gore. Ho-hum...
2) Eisner has been reported by close aides as having some mutual dislike thing going for - yes, you guessed it - Steve Jobs. Even whilst relying upon Pixar, Jobs' company, for financial and commercial gain, Eisner got into such a strop that he held a press conference effectively to accuse Apple (another Jobs company) of inciting piracy via it's rip-mix-burn campaign. Jobs was "livid". Most mac purists on the net now believe that Jobs' reason for pulling out of the lucrative Disney deal was just to spite Eisner - Jobs, you see, is the only person out there rumoured to be more volatile than Eisner. Why do they think this? Jobs' parting press release contained what Disney referred to as "name calling". Ho-hum...
3) Family Guy cartoon comedy. Enter M. Eisner. Que famous catchphrase: "There ya go li'l feller. See you in Disneyland... BRING MONEY. Hom-hum...

There we are. Rant over. Mickey Eisner is not the easiest guy to work with - no wonder he effectively gave Roy the boot - he could see the man leaving anyway!



Rich::

 

[dcentity2000]

Originally posted by manning
Is Eisner is in a panic state? If he is good. He'll then tend to make more mistakes, and hopefully enough to get booted!!!

How on earth is that good in any way shape or form?! Even if he does get booted, we'll all still have to live wth the consequences of the mistakes made!



Rich::