Don't Talk To Me, I'm Dealing

n a town where gossip may be the second most valu- The path of advancement in this sector of the industry able currency and the number one pastime, how much seems to lead one way-out of their business -affairs depart- information gets traded among those who know the ments and into better paying jobs across the bargaining ta- deals from the inside out-the network and studio ne- ble, at studios and production companies. Consider, for in- gotiators who dicker for talent and shows? stance, a partial alumni roster of ABC's business -affairs To hear business -affairs people tell it, not much. NBC's department: Ed Masket, now overseeing MCA's business John Agoglia says he communicates affairs; Barry Meyer and Art Stolnitz, with former CBS colleague Bill Klein, who do the same at Warner Bros.; now head of that network's business - Dick Reisberg, president of Reeves affairs department-but only with a Entertainment; and Ed Gradinger, wave of the hand across a crowded president and CEO of New World Tel- room, lest someone cry "antitrust." evision. For that reason, some business -affairs CBS, for one, downplays this migra- officials say, they have no specific pro- tion, and vehemently denies any for- fessional organization, although they mal information sharing by the net- do tend to meet at industry luncheons, works. But to hear others tell it, it's university seminars and trade -group just the opposite. "Even though they gatherings for attorneys. At such won't admit it, the networks talk to places, says one studio official, refer- each other, as do the studios," insists ring to Agoglia, Klein and ABC's Ron Jerry Katzman, head of the William Sunderland, "I've caught them all in Morris Agency's TV department. the same room, talking to each other "Each knows what the other's pay- at once, saying they're not fixing ing" for shows and talent. And, while prices." the networks deny it, Katzman claims For some, swapping information is a Disney's Kerstetter: Marred to the competition. they share a computerized data base particularly thorny question. Disney's of past fees paid to studios and talent. Bill Kerstetter and Columbia's Valerie Cavanaugh-heads Sure they do, agrees Ruth Engelhardt, a William Morris of their respective company's television business -affairs de- v.p. who's been in television business affairs for nearly 40 partments-are married. So, as lawyers who fully under- years. "Any good studio knows what the others are pay- stand their obligations, what do they talk about at home? ing," she says, adding that it's nothing new. "They used to "The cats," Kerstetter says. "The lawn. We avoid even the share it by telephone," she recalls. "Computers just make it appearance of impropriety." Columbia ordered Cavanaugh easier." not to discuss her marriage, or anything else, for this article. The bottom line, she chuckles, is that, "In this town, there The networks might also have reason to be concerned. are no secrets." N.K. WhereWere They Then?

EXECUTIVE CURRENT POSITION HIGHEST BUSINESS -AFFAIRS POSITION Robert Daly Chairman/CEO, Warner Bros. Inc. VP/business affairs-N.Y., CBS TV Jonathan Dolgen President/TV Division, 20th Cent. Fox SVP/worldwide business affairs, Columbia Pictures Film Corp. Jerry Gottlieb Chairman/CEO, Lorimar Home Video SVP/bus. and legal affairs, Lorimar Telepic. Corp. Ed Gradinger President/CEO, New World TV Group SVP/business affairs, Columbia Pictures TV Helene Hahn EVP/ Studios SVP/bus. and legal affairs, Dayna Kalins EVP/Creative Affairs, TV division/TV SVP/business affairs, 20th Cent. Fox TV Prod., 20th Cent. Fox Film Corp. Ronald Lightstone EVP/Aaron Spelling Prod. VP/business affairs, Viacom Entertainment Group Edward Masket EVP/Universal TV VP/business affairs, ABC Arnold Messer EVP/Columbia Pictures Entertainment Senior EVP/motion pic. bus. affairs, Tri- Pictures Inc. Barry Meyer EVP/Warner Bros. Inc. EVP/business affairs, Warner Bros. TV Richard Reisberg President/COO, Reeves Ent. Group VP/business affairs, Viacom Sid Sheinberg President/COO, MCA Inc. Attorney, business affairs, Revue Prod. (MCA subsidiary) Frank Wells President/COO, Walt Disney Co. Head of business affairs, Warner Bros. Features Tom Wertheimer EVP/MCA Inc. VP/business affairs, Universal TV Richard Zimbert EVP/special asst. to the chairman, SVP/business affairs, Motion Pic. Group, Paramount Pic. Office of the chairman, Paramount Pic. Corp. Corp.

Research: Rhoda Fukushima

70 CHANNELS / JUNE 1988 www.americanradiohistory.com