Bruce Rosenblum Joining Disney/ABC TV Group

BURBANK: Bruce Rosenblum is joining Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) under Ben Sherwood as part of a major reorganization of the company’s TV portfolio.

Rosenblum is being brought in in a move that unifies business operations for the TV portfolio. He will have direct oversight and responsibility for all aspects of Disney/ABC business operations, including global distribution; affiliate sales and marketing; digital media, strategy and business development; media operations, engineering and IT; and consumer insights. He will also jointly oversee all ad sales aspects alongside each business unit head.

Most recently, Rosenblum served as president of Legendary Television and Digital Media. He is currently serving his second term as chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, a volunteer position he began in 2011 and which ends this coming December. From 2005 through 2013, he served as president of Warner Bros. Television Group, reporting directly to the company’s chairman and CEO, Barry Meyer. He came to Warner Bros. as part of Warner Communications’ 1989 acquisition of Lorimar Telepictures as VP of business affairs, and went on to hold several senior roles within his 26-year history with the company.

Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, said, “Disney/ABC is home to some of the most iconic brands in television. As we build on creative momentum across our portfolio, it has become more important than ever to establish a more efficient and effective operating structure. With his formidable record as a skilled manager and innovative deal-maker, Bruce is a stellar addition to our team. I’m confident he will make a powerful difference as we navigate—and win—the future.”

Rosenblum added, “I have long admired The Walt Disney Company, and became impressed with Ben’s leadership of and vision for Disney/ABC over the past few years. While at Warner Bros., I had many successful dealings with the group, and have witnessed first-hand the intelligence and creativity in their business operations. I’m looking forward to partnering with Ben and the talented leaders, overseeing these areas to help us achieve some already ambitious goals and to set even higher benchmarks for success going forward.”