Register

    Fred Silverman, TV executive at 3 major networks, dies at 82

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1164 Views
    This June 24, 1978 file photo shows NBC President Fred Silverman speaking in Los Angeles. Silverman, who steered programming for each of the Big Three broadcast networks, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, at his Los Angeles area home. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)

    By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    Fred Silverman, who steered programming for each of the Big Three broadcast networks and brought "All in the Family," "Roots," "Hawaii Five-O" and other hit series and miniseries to television, died Thursday. He was 82.

    Silverman, who had been battling cancer, died at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, family spokesperson Julia Rosen said Thursday. Family members were with him, Rosen said.

    Silverman's gift for picking shows that resonated with viewers prompted Time magazine to dub him "The Man with the Golden Gut" in a 1977 profile. As ABC's entertainment chief, Silverman had turned the network's fortunes around with shows including "Roots," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Charlie's Angels."

    He had already brought success to CBS with an overhaul that included the end of country-themed series including "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres" and a pivot to what advertisers considered more upscale and urban fare, including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Mannix."

    Silverman couldn't work his ratings magic when he moved to NBC as network CEO and president, with "Diff'rent Strokes" an exception.

    AP researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report.

    Tags:Fred Silverman



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

    MySHOOT Profiles


    Add A Comment