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Headline, Industry News
Chris Albrecht named president, CEO of Starz
Wednesday December 23rd 2009He’s back.
Former HBO chief Chris Albrecht is the new president and CEO of Starz, the premium cable network’s parent company Liberty Media announced today.
Albrecht spent more than 20 years at HBO (seven years as president of original programming) and was credited for launching series such as “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.” He will oversee all Starz entities, including the network, Overture Films and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
The move signals that Starz is serious about increasing its scripted programming and following in the footsteps of HBO and Showtime. Albrecht says he wants to create a distinct programming brand for Starz, though says the nature of that identity is still being determined.
“At HBO I came up through the programming ranks, here I’m coming in as CEO and my first step is to understand all the working parts of the company and make an assessment of how to create another distinct brand in the pay-TV category,” Albrecht said.
A premium network best known for running movies, Starz has been making a recent push into scripted programming with the drama series “Crash,” the comedy ” Party Down” and the upcoming “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” Starz has renewed “Spartacus” for a second season prior to its Jan. 22 debut. The decision pre-dated Albrecht, though he called the action-drama, “a really interesting show that has a lot of possibilities and is very watchable.”
Albrecht will succeed Robert Clasen, who’s retiring at the end of the year.
“We are excited to have an industry leader with an exceptional track record join the Starz team,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media’s president and CEO. “With his extensive experience and success in creating compelling original content and building a premium pay channel, Chris is a recognized visionary in the creative community and uniquely qualified to lead Starz into the future.”
Albrecht abruptly left HBO in 2007 and has most recently run Foresee Entertainment. The executive says his time spent away from a network has been valuable.
“Having been on the inside at HBO, and then having had the opportunity to sit on the outside and see the challenges facing media companies, it’s given me a unique perspective,” Albrecht said. “I’m coming in with a more grown-up and mature approach; hopefully I’m a little wiser.”
Headline, Industry News
Chris Albrecht named president, CEO of Starz
Wednesday December 23rd 2009He’s back.
Former HBO chief Chris Albrecht is the new president and CEO of Starz, the premium cable network’s parent company Liberty Media announced today.
Albrecht spent more than 20 years at HBO (seven years as president of original programming) and was credited for launching series such as “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.” He will oversee all Starz entities, including the network, Overture Films and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
The move signals that Starz is serious about increasing its scripted programming and following in the footsteps of HBO and Showtime. Albrecht says he wants to create a distinct programming brand for Starz, though says the nature of that identity is still being determined.
“At HBO I came up through the programming ranks, here I’m coming in as CEO and my first step is to understand all the working parts of the company and make an assessment of how to create another distinct brand in the pay-TV category,” Albrecht said.
A premium network best known for running movies, Starz has been making a recent push into scripted programming with the drama series “Crash,” the comedy ” Party Down” and the upcoming “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” Starz has renewed “Spartacus” for a second season prior to its Jan. 22 debut. The decision pre-dated Albrecht, though he called the action-drama, “a really interesting show that has a lot of possibilities and is very watchable.”
Albrecht will succeed Robert Clasen, who’s retiring at the end of the year.
“We are excited to have an industry leader with an exceptional track record join the Starz team,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media’s president and CEO. “With his extensive experience and success in creating compelling original content and building a premium pay channel, Chris is a recognized visionary in the creative community and uniquely qualified to lead Starz into the future.”
Albrecht abruptly left HBO in 2007 and has most recently run Foresee Entertainment. The executive says his time spent away from a network has been valuable.
“Having been on the inside at HBO, and then having had the opportunity to sit on the outside and see the challenges facing media companies, it’s given me a unique perspective,” Albrecht said. “I’m coming in with a more grown-up and mature approach; hopefully I’m a little wiser.”
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Headline, Industry News
Chris Albrecht named president, CEO of Starz
Wednesday December 23rd 2009He’s back.
Former HBO chief Chris Albrecht is the new president and CEO of Starz, the premium cable network’s parent company Liberty Media announced today.
Albrecht spent more than 20 years at HBO (seven years as president of original programming) and was credited for launching series such as “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.” He will oversee all Starz entities, including the network, Overture Films and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
The move signals that Starz is serious about increasing its scripted programming and following in the footsteps of HBO and Showtime. Albrecht says he wants to create a distinct programming brand for Starz, though says the nature of that identity is still being determined.
“At HBO I came up through the programming ranks, here I’m coming in as CEO and my first step is to understand all the working parts of the company and make an assessment of how to create another distinct brand in the pay-TV category,” Albrecht said.
A premium network best known for running movies, Starz has been making a recent push into scripted programming with the drama series “Crash,” the comedy ” Party Down” and the upcoming “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” Starz has renewed “Spartacus” for a second season prior to its Jan. 22 debut. The decision pre-dated Albrecht, though he called the action-drama, “a really interesting show that has a lot of possibilities and is very watchable.”
Albrecht will succeed Robert Clasen, who’s retiring at the end of the year.
“We are excited to have an industry leader with an exceptional track record join the Starz team,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media’s president and CEO. “With his extensive experience and success in creating compelling original content and building a premium pay channel, Chris is a recognized visionary in the creative community and uniquely qualified to lead Starz into the future.”
Albrecht abruptly left HBO in 2007 and has most recently run Foresee Entertainment. The executive says his time spent away from a network has been valuable.
“Having been on the inside at HBO, and then having had the opportunity to sit on the outside and see the challenges facing media companies, it’s given me a unique perspective,” Albrecht said. “I’m coming in with a more grown-up and mature approach; hopefully I’m a little wiser.”
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