NBC has poached a leading executive from the ABC lineup, Deadline.com reports. The Peacock Network snatched up ABC’s head of scheduling, Jeff Bader, who will become NBC’s president, program planning, strategy and research, the story says.
Bader will report to NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt.
Bader will be in charge of scheduling NBC’s prime-time, daytime and late-night programming, with NBC Entertainment’s scheduling and research departments reporting to him.
Since Mitch Metcalf left NBC in March 2011, the network hasn’t had a top scheduling executive.
"The network’s most recent fall schedule raised eyebrows with some decisions, like putting comedy blocks on four nights and slating ‘Rock Center With Brian Williams’ Thursdays at 10 PM," the piece points out.
Bader’s role, a newly created position, comes with a "significant salary bump" for the executive, the story notes. ABC doesn’t have a replacement yet for Bader, since his departure was sudden, the piece adds.
So Jeff gets Vince Manze’s old job. Let’s see if NBC gives him more to work with than they gave Manze.
Just saying …
Here’s a strategy for NBC!…After the Olympics, try putting on some shows that are actually funny, or exciting. The Olympics aside, for the last several years NBC primetime programs have been summarily rejected by the viewing public. NBC is in real danger of becoming irrelevent.