Yuku free message boards

OUT: Brian Frons Leaves ABC Daytime; ABC To Form Times Square Studios

Another  bombshell day for ABC Daytime, this time the announcement that Brian  Frons will leave when his contract expires in January.  "Brian Frons"  instantly started trending on Twitter when the news was announced.  After three daytime dramas were canceled under his leadership, soap  opera fans everywhere rejoiced (at least in our Twitter feed).  Read the  ABC press release below.

DISNEY/ABC TELEVISION GROUP ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF TIMES SQUARE  STUDIOS, A NEW CURRENT PROGRAMMING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION ENCOMPASSING  DAYTIME AND SYNDICATED PRODUCT

VICKI DUMMER PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, TIMES SQUARE  STUDIOS; ADDS OVERSIGHT OF DIVISION TO HER CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES;
CONTINUES TO REPORT TO PAUL LEE, PRESIDENT, ABC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

RESPECTED INDUSTRY VETERAN BRIAN FRONS TO EXIT THE COMPANY
AT THE END OF HIS CONTRACT IN JANUARY 2012

Friday, December 2, 2011... The Disney/ABC Television Group today  announced the formation of Times Square Studios, an integrated current  entertainment programming and development division, following the  announcement that Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television  Group, will depart the Company at the end of his contract in January  2012. Through that date Mr. Frons will assist in transitioning to the  new structure and will be available to provide counsel to the management  team.

The new integrated Times Square Studios division will  have oversight of current entertainment programming and the development  of new programming focused primarily in the areas of non-scripted  lifestyle and health for Daytime and Syndication. The current  programming that will be part of this structure going forward includes  "The View," "General Hospital," "The Chew," "The Revolution," "Katie"  and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." "LIVE! with Kelly" remains part of  the ABC Owned Television Stations Group division.

Vicki Dummer, senior vice president, Current Series & Specials, ABC  Entertainment Group, will be promoted to executive vice president, Times  Square Studios, Current Series & Specials, adding oversight of this  new programming and development area to her existing programming  responsibilities. She will continue to report to Paul Lee, president,  ABC Entertainment Group, who, with this announcement, adds Times Square  Studios to his portfolio.

Abra Potkin, respected former CBS News and entertainment development  executive, has been hired as senior vice president, East Coast  Programming & Development, Times Square Studios; and ABC Daytime  veteran Ann Lewis Roberts has been named senior vice president, West  Coast Current Programming & Development, Times Square Studios. Both  will report to Ms. Dummer.

In commenting on the announcement, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media  Networks and president, 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."

Mr. Frons said: "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," Ms. Dummer stated. "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."

Mr. 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."

Brian Scott Frons was named president, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television  Group in May 2006, where he oversaw the creation, production and  delivery of all programming on ABC Daytime, SOAPnet and ABC Media  Productions. He joined the Company in 2002 as president, ABC Daytime.  Prior to that, he worked for the London-based SBS Broadcasting, S.A.,  where he most recently served as senior vice president of Programming,  overseeing all programming, promotion and research operations for 12  SBS-owned and operated channels reaching about 125 million European  viewers. Earlier in his career he was president, Creative Affairs, for  New World Entertainment in Hollywood, where he directed program  development and production for network, first-run syndication and  international co-production. Mr. Frons has also been vice president,  Creative Affairs, for NBC Productions.

In the Daytime Programming field, Mr. Frons has held various executive  positions, including vice president, Daytime Programming, for NBC  Entertainment, and director, Daytime Programming, for CBS Entertainment.  In addition to developing, promoting or overseeing numerous series, Mr.  Frons was also instrumental to the launch of The Soap Opera Digest  Awards.

Mr. Frons began his television career in 1978 as one of three program  management trainees chosen during a national search by CBS  Entertainment. He holds a Master of Science degree in communications  from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from  the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Vicki Dummer was named senior vice president, Current Series &  Specials, ABC Entertainment, in June 2011. In this role Ms. Dummer  oversees all current series and special programming for ABC's primetime  block. She reports to Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group.

Previously Ms. Dummer was senior vice president, Alternative Series,  Specials & Late-Night, ABC Entertainment, since June 2009. In that  position she was responsible for the development and oversight of  numerous programs, including "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,"  "Supernanny"," "Secret Millionaire" and "Wipeout." Prior to joining the  Alternative Series & Specials department, she honed her skills in  the arts and entertainment industry.

Ms. Dummer began her career at ABC in October 1996 in the Comedy Series  Programming department. She worked on several of ABC's most popular  series, including "8 Simple Rules," "According to Jim," "Dharma &  Greg," "The Drew Carey Show," "Less Than Perfect," "Whose Line Is It  Anyway?" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

Prior to joining ABC, she was a senior program specialist at the  National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC. She has also held  posts as executive director of a statewide service organization for  dancers and performance artists, and was manager of a modern dance  company.

Ms. Dummer received a Bachelor of Arts in arts administration from Ohio State University.

Abra Potkin joins Times Square Studios as senior vice president, East  Coast Programming & Development, from CBS Television Distribution,  where she served as senior vice president, Talent, Development &  Programming since 2006. During her tenure there, she worked on such  shows as "Dr. Phil," "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider." Prior to  that, Ms. Potkin spent eight years as director of production, West  Coast Bureau, for CBS News / "48 Hours."