Garth Ancier

The team is losing. Quick, fire the coach. No, you didn't take a wrong turn and land in the Sports section. It's just that the prevalent philosophy in sports--a multibillion-dollar, entertainment-oriented business rife with overpaid superstars--increasingly mirrors the short-term thinking on display in television.

Garth Ancier, president, BBC Worldwide America. In 1988, Ancier was the first programming president of then-fledging Fox network, and the prospect of a sustained strike was a daunting one. "It was a time when the other networks and even Fox were so dependent on scripted programming," said Ancier. "Our feeling was that it would slow our growth down. It was already a very difficult time for the network." No "American Idol," no "Survivor" -- reality TV was in its infancy.

Peter Chernin, former president of Lorimar Film Entertainment, will replace Garth Ancier as president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Co. A source within Fox said Ancier, who resigned Tuesday, had been locked in a power struggle with fellow entertainment programming executives Kevin Wendle and Rob Kenneally, and had not participated in any programming meetings or casting sessions for "more than a month."

Veteran television executive Garth Ancier, who has run the entertainment divisions of three different networks, recast himself Tuesday as president of BBC Worldwide America. Ancier has been charged with expanding the reach and ratings of British Broadcasting Corp.'s U.S.-based cable channels including BBC America, adapting the broadcaster's successful shows for U.S. networks and overseeing the growth of its Internet presence in the U.S.

They Come, They Go: "Sunday Best," NBC's hour experiment in week-in-review programming, is history, and producer Garth Ancier and his "Sunday Best" creative team are being reassigned to develop another program. "Super Bloopers and New Practical Jokes" will occupy the 7 p.m. Sunday time slot for the rest of the season. In another programming shift, the network plans to replace "Wings" with the sitcom "Seinfeld" on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m.

Garth Ancier, president of network television production at Walt Disney Co., resigned suddenly after he clashed with senior management over what he called "autonomy issues." Ancier, 33, was only 18 months into a five-year contract at Disney. He became widely known as the first programming head at Fox Broadcasting Co. when it started in 1986. Rich Frank, president of Walt Disney Studios, said Ancier had "done a terrific job in building up the TV operation here."

Veteran television executive Garth Ancier, who has run the entertainment divisions of three different networks, recast himself Tuesday as president of BBC Worldwide America. Ancier has been charged with expanding the reach and ratings of British Broadcasting Corp.'s U.S.-based cable channels including BBC America, adapting the broadcaster's successful shows for U.S. networks and overseeing the growth of its Internet presence in the U.S.

Garth Ancier, hired by the Walt Disney Co. 1 1/2 years ago to strengthen Disney's hand in television, resigned as head of network productions amid reports of a power struggle. He leaves behind an expanded but still far from booming network television division at Disney, which, for all its success in the movie business, has produced one TV flop after another. Neither Ancier nor Disney would comment Wednesday on his reason for leaving. No replacement was named.

Garth Ancier, president, BBC Worldwide America. In 1988, Ancier was the first programming president of then-fledging Fox network, and the prospect of a sustained strike was a daunting one. "It was a time when the other networks and even Fox were so dependent on scripted programming," said Ancier. "Our feeling was that it would slow our growth down. It was already a very difficult time for the network." No "American Idol," no "Survivor" -- reality TV was in its infancy.

In his new position as president of network television for Walt Disney Studios, Garth Ancier, former programming chief for Fox Broadcasting Co., said Wednesday that he will be returning to the thing he likes best: developing shows for the mainstream network audience.

Garth Ancier, the former WB president of entertainment who defected to NBC in 1999, is returning to the Time Warner fold to work for his old boss. In the first personnel move since becoming chairman and chief executive of AOL Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting operation two week's ago, Jamie Kellner named Ancier to the newly created position of executive vice president of programming for the Turner Networks.

The team is losing. Quick, fire the coach. No, you didn't take a wrong turn and land in the Sports section. It's just that the prevalent philosophy in sports--a multibillion-dollar, entertainment-oriented business rife with overpaid superstars--increasingly mirrors the short-term thinking on display in television.

After five years of stable management, WB Television Network faces its first shake-up, with Susanne Daniels named Monday to replace Garth Ancier as the president of entertainment at the network. Daniels, 33, will assume her new post immediately, even though Ancier will remain at WB until his contract expires in May. Ancier is expected to join NBC as president of entertainment, replacing Scott Sassa, who will succeed Don Ohlmeyer as president of NBC West Coast.

When the Democratic National Convention unfolds in New York from July 13-16, the handiwork and advice of three well-known Hollywood television figures will play a prominent part. They are Harry Thomason, co-executive producer of CBS' "Designing Women" and "Evening Shade" and TV adviser to probable Democratic nominee Bill Clinton; Gary Smith, a veteran of special programming who will produce the convention; and Garth Ancier, a young executive with a background at NBC, Fox and Walt Disney Co.

They Come, They Go: "Sunday Best," NBC's hour experiment in week-in-review programming, is history, and producer Garth Ancier and his "Sunday Best" creative team are being reassigned to develop another program. "Super Bloopers and New Practical Jokes" will occupy the 7 p.m. Sunday time slot for the rest of the season. In another programming shift, the network plans to replace "Wings" with the sitcom "Seinfeld" on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m.

At first appearance, NBC's new series "Sunday Best" would more appropriately be called "NBC's Best." The hourlong comedy series, a sort of TV kaleidoscope, takes a sly look at television past and present, with the present decidedly skewed toward NBC.

Garth Ancier, the former WB president of entertainment who defected to NBC in 1999, is returning to the Time Warner fold to work for his old boss. In the first personnel move since becoming chairman and chief executive of AOL Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting operation two week's ago, Jamie Kellner named Ancier to the newly created position of executive vice president of programming for the Turner Networks.

At first appearance, NBC's new series "Sunday Best" would more appropriately be called "NBC's Best." The hourlong comedy series, a sort of TV kaleidoscope, takes a sly look at television past and present, with the present decidedly skewed toward NBC.

Garth Ancier, president of network television production at Walt Disney Co., resigned suddenly after he clashed with senior management over what he called "autonomy issues." Ancier, 33, was only 18 months into a five-year contract at Disney. He became widely known as the first programming head at Fox Broadcasting Co. when it started in 1986. Rich Frank, president of Walt Disney Studios, said Ancier had "done a terrific job in building up the TV operation here."

Garth Ancier, hired by the Walt Disney Co. 1 1/2 years ago to strengthen Disney's hand in television, resigned as head of network productions amid reports of a power struggle. He leaves behind an expanded but still far from booming network television division at Disney, which, for all its success in the movie business, has produced one TV flop after another. Neither Ancier nor Disney would comment Wednesday on his reason for leaving. No replacement was named.