Television
August 9, 2001
Respected Television Sales Executive Dan Greenblatt To Retire At End Of September
(August 9, 2001 - Burbank, CA) - Respected television distribution executive Dan Greenblatt has announced that he will retire at the end of September, capping a thirty six-year career in television. Greenblatt, who currently serves as Executive Vice President of Sales for Warner Bros.’ two television syndication arms - Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and Telepictures Distribution - will relocate to Florida. The announcement was made today by Dick Robertson, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
“Dan is a great salesman, a terrific executive and a good friend,” said Robertson. “He’s been a vital part of our divisions’ continued success in a business climate that is increasingly challenging. He has also been a key architect of many of our most innovative and successful sales and distribution strategies throughout his seven years with our company. We will miss him and his expertise, and wish him only the best-especially when it comes to his golf and skiing, which need some help.”
“We are happy to have had Dan on our team for his best seven years and we’re glad that he’ll enter the ‘Hall of Fame’ wearing a Warner Bros. jersey,” added Barry M. Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros.
Greenblatt was named to his current post of Executive Vice President, Sales, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) and Telepictures Distribution in October 1999, becoming the divisions’ number-two executive and assuming oversight of both distribution operations. He was responsible for the distribution sales activities for both divisions’ first-run and off-network properties, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of administration, research, marketing, creative services, programming and new business development. Greenblatt previously served as Executive Vice President/General Sales Manager, WBDTD, a post he was promoted to in May 1998, after joining the company as Senior Vice President/General Sales Manager in 1994.
During his tenure with the company, he oversaw the distribution launch of a number of first-run series, including the hugely successful “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” which is generally credited with revitalizing the daytime talk/variety genre, the new version of “The People’s Court,” now heading into its fifth season, and “Change of Heart,” consistently one of the highest rated late night dating strips. In the off-network arena, Greenblatt played a key role in the record-breaking launch of the off-network powerhouse “Friends,” and such hits and signature series as “The Drew Carey Show,” “ER,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” “Family Matters,” “Step by Step” and “Living Single.”
Before coming to Warner Bros., Greenblatt served for seven years as Senior Vice President, Eastern Sales for Twentieth Television where he spearheaded syndication sales efforts for such series as “A Current Affair,” “The Simpsons” and “Cops.” Prior to that, he had his own broadcast consulting firm, Upscale TV Productions, which he started for the purpose of launching the “Geraldo” talk show for Tribune Entertainment. Greenblatt was also Vice President, Eastern Sales and Vice President, Advertiser Program Sales, Paramount Pictures Television Distribution from 1980 - 1983. He also spent 10 years at Metromedia, holding senior sales management positions in both the national rep and stations divisions.
Greenblatt began his career as a page at NBC in New York in 1965. # # #