Scott Sassa

Scott Sassa has resigned as president of entertainment and syndication of Hearst Corp. Sassa's resignation was confirmed Thursday after the New York Post published a story saying Sassa had been cavorting with strippers and one -- in partnership with her boyfriend -- had tried to blackmail him and sent texts he'd written to senior officials at the magazine and television company. A Hearst spokesman declined to comment beyond confirming Sassa's resignation. Sassa did not immediately respond to request for comment.

One of the longest-serving chief executives in the media industry is stepping down. Frank A. Bennack Jr., chief executive of Hearst Corp. since 1979, will give up that title in June. Steven Swartz, currently president and chief operating officer, will become CEO. Bennack will remain vice chairman of the Hearst Board. Although best known for its magazine unit, which includes Cosmopolitan and Esquire, Hearst also has a major presence in the TV industry. It owns stakes in several powerful cable networks including ESPN, A&E, History and Lifetime.

NBC Entertainment's top West Coast executive, Scott Sassa, is negotiating to leave the network, according to NBC sources. Although neither NBC nor Sassa would comment on his plans, NBC's West Coast president reportedly will step down in June, after the network announces its fall lineup of shows. Sassa has overseen the network's prime-time shows for three years, with Jeff Zucker, NBC's entertainment chief, reporting to him.

Scott Sassa has resigned as president of entertainment and syndication of Hearst Corp. Sassa's resignation was confirmed Thursday after the New York Post published a story saying Sassa had been cavorting with strippers and one -- in partnership with her boyfriend -- had tried to blackmail him and sent texts he'd written to senior officials at the magazine and television company. A Hearst spokesman declined to comment beyond confirming Sassa's resignation. Sassa did not immediately respond to request for comment.

In only its second year of operation, TNT this year won six ACE Awards, cable television's highest honor, including best original cable movie of the year. TNT is also the home of both NFL and NBA games. But what has really given the cable channel an air of legitimacy in Hollywood is the Sunset Boulevard billboard that hypes its original movies alongside huge ads trumpeting the recent offerings from Universal, Paramount, Fox and Warner Bros.

NBC unveiled a succession plan for its entertainment division Monday, naming Scott Sassa president of NBC Entertainment and the eventual replacement for Don Ohlmeyer, president of NBC West Coast, who will oversee the transition to new management until his contract expires at the end of next year.

Soon after Ted Turner nabbed New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment this week, his right-hand man in Hollywood hit the phones. Scott Sassa arranged for meetings with many of the top executives in town, presumably to discuss a future that's been clouded by the $650-million acquisitions.

Former Turner Exec to Head Marvel: Marvel Entertainment Group Inc., as expected, named Scott Sassa, formerly head of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s entertainment unit, its chairman and chief executive. Sassa also was named president and chief operating officer of Andrews Group Inc., the unit of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. that owns 81% of Marvel.

One of the longest-serving chief executives in the media industry is stepping down. Frank A. Bennack Jr., chief executive of Hearst Corp. since 1979, will give up that title in June. Steven Swartz, currently president and chief operating officer, will become CEO. Bennack will remain vice chairman of the Hearst Board. Although best known for its magazine unit, which includes Cosmopolitan and Esquire, Hearst also has a major presence in the TV industry. It owns stakes in several powerful cable networks including ESPN, A&E, History and Lifetime.

After less than six months on the job, Scott Sassa is expected to leave as chairman of Marvel Entertainment Group to take an expanded role at Ronald Perelman's holding company, MacAndrews & Forbes, according to Hollywood sources. Sassa took the helm of the troubled comic book company after leaving Turner Broadcasting System Inc. in a management shake-up last September. Within weeks, Marvel, which is 80%-controlled by Perelman, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Former NBC Entertainment President Scott Sassa resigned Wednesday as chief executive of Friendster Inc., the innovative social-networking website now falling victim to the same buzz that made it a cultural phenomenon. Sassa was hired a year ago to transform Friendster into a media company supported by advertising. But as Friendster slid further behind upstart rivals, Sassa decided last month that he couldn't do it.

* Former NBC Entertainment President Scott Sassa, 45, was named CEO of networking website Friendster Inc. * Helen Murphy, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the newly private Warner Music Group, is departing the company with about nine months left on her employment contract.

General Electric Co.'s NBC expanded the role of Entertainment President Jeff Zucker, who has improved the network's ratings since taking over programming in December 2000. NBC announced Wednesday that Zucker would take on responsibilities over syndication and studio production now handled by West Coast President Scott Sassa. Sassa's new role has yet to be determined, but NBC executives said he will be working on strategic initiatives.

NBC is expected to announce this week a new role for Scott Sassa, president of NBC West Coast since May 1999. Sassa, whose future has been the subject of speculation for more than a year, will focus on strategic and business development initiatives, working directly for NBC Chairman and Chief Executive Robert C. "Bob" Wright, according to sources close to the company. NBC declined to comment.

NBC Entertainment's top West Coast executive, Scott Sassa, is negotiating to leave the network, according to NBC sources. Although neither NBC nor Sassa would comment on his plans, NBC's West Coast president reportedly will step down in June, after the network announces its fall lineup of shows. Sassa has overseen the network's prime-time shows for three years, with Jeff Zucker, NBC's entertainment chief, reporting to him.

The new entertainment presidents at the NBC and Fox networks have much in common. Both are 39 years old, cut their teeth at cable TV channels and assumed their positions in the last few months after a relatively successful predecessor was abruptly ousted. They expressed different visions of the future, however, in separate sessions addressing a group of television critics assembled for a semiannual gathering in Pasadena.

After an aborted attempt to turn around Marvel Entertainment, Scott Sassa has joined NBC Inc. as president of the TV stations division. He replaces John Rohrbeck, a 30-year veteran of NBC who is credited with building one of the nation's largest and most profitable station groups over the last six years, with 12 stations that reach more than 25% of U.S. households. NBC said Rohrbeck will be reassigned to a yet-to-be-determined post.

NBC is expected to announce this week a new role for Scott Sassa, president of NBC West Coast since May 1999. Sassa, whose future has been the subject of speculation for more than a year, will focus on strategic and business development initiatives, working directly for NBC Chairman and Chief Executive Robert C. "Bob" Wright, according to sources close to the company. NBC declined to comment.

NBC wants less sex on its airwaves and fewer programs set in New York City, the home of one of its greatest hits, "Seinfeld," the network's new entertainment president, Scott Sassa, said Thursday. Sassa, speaking to TV critics in Pasadena, said he also wants to see more traditional families and greater ethnic diversity featured in NBC shows.

New NBC Entertainment President Scott Sassa acknowledges it will take a little time for him to put any imprint on the network's programming, as he makes his latest pit stop while racing toward his next promotion. Although only 39 years old, Sassa is already well traveled, having spent nine years at Turner Broadcasting System, overseeing Turner Entertainment Group and its film production arm, Turner Pictures.