Disney/ABC Sets Up Times Square Studios

NEW YORK: Following the news that Brian Frons, the president of daytime at the Disney/ABC Television Group, will leave his role at the end of his contract in January 2012, the company has decided to merge its daytime and syndicated units into one division, Times Square Studios.

The new integrated Times Square Studios unit will oversee current entertainment programming and the development of new programming focused on non-scripted lifestyle and health for daytime and syndication. Current programming that will become part of the new structure going forward includes The View, General Hospital, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and The Revolution. LIVE! with Kelly remains part of the ABC Owned Television Stations Group.

Vicki Dummer, the senior VP of current series and specials for the ABC Entertainment Group, will serve as the executive VP of Times Square Studios’ current series in specials. She adds the oversight for this new programming and development unit to her existing programming responsibilities. Dummer will continue to report to Paul Lee, the president of ABC Entertainment Group. Lee adds Times Square Studios to his remit.

Abra Potkin, a former CBS News and entertainment development executive, has been tapped to serve as the senior VP of East Coast programming and development for Times Square Studios. The ABC Daytime veteran Anna Lewis Roberts takes on responsibility for the West Coast programming and development operations of Times Square Studios. Both report to Dummer.

Anne Sweeney, the co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, said: “Brian Frons has been the driving force in our successful Daytime division since joining us in 2002, and while we understand his decision to leave at the end of his contract, we’re sad to see him go.” She continued, “We took this opportunity to rethink our business, and the result was the creation of Times Square Studios. Having it be part of the ABC Entertainment Group, under the supervision of proven executives Vicki Dummer and Paul Lee, provides us the opportunity to bring greater creative resources, development strength and operational flexibility to this key area of our business.”

Frons commented: “While my decision to try something new was not arrived at easily, nine years is a long time in television terms. I’m proud of the performance of ABC Daytime over that time, and of all of the accomplishments that our team achieved along the way. I’m especially pleased by the early results for The Chew and excited for the launch of The Revolution, which will be one more positive step in transforming ABC Daytime for our viewers. I’ll miss my colleagues and the wonderful talent that makes our shows, but know they are in very capable hands with Vicki going forward.”

“I am honored, humbled and thrilled to have been entrusted with this new opportunity,” Dummer remarked. “Brian built an amazing team, and I’m looking forward to jumping into this new role and working with Abra, Ann and everyone in the group to make Times Square Studios a vibrant addition to our division.”

Lee added, “I’m really excited by the possibilities of Times Square Studios, and I think Vicki’s broad experience across reality and scripted makes her the perfect person to lead the charge.”