International TV Distribution Veteran Alan Silverbach Passes Away

Alan Silverbach, former senior VP of international distribution at 20th Century Fox and partner of The Silverbach-Lazarus Group, has passed away at the age of 96.

Born and raised in New York City, Silverbach was among a small group of TV executives who helped to establish the international television distribution industry.

At the end of World War II, Silverbach—who was a bomber for the U.S. Air Force and flew 65 missions piloting B-26s—was accepted into a 20th Century Fox training program for vets. He left Fox in 1977, when he launched his own independent television sales company. He recruited Herb Lazarus, a long-time friend and head of international sales for Columbia Pictures Television, to join as partner. The two established The Silverbach-Lazarus Group.

Lazarus met Silverbach 55 years ago. They shared not only a common approach to business but also a close friendship. They even went on vacations together along with their wives. Lazarus said, “Alan Silverbach was the best of the best; there is nothing else to say.”