Susan Rovner and Brett Paul Named Presidents of Warner Bros. Television
(May 22, 2019 - Burbank, CA) — Warner Bros. Television Group President and Chief Content Officer Peter Roth has announced today a new leadership team for Warner Bros. Television, the Studio’s flagship primetime scripted programming production unit which produces original drama and comedy series for the broadcast networks, premium cable channels, and on-demand/streaming platforms. Highly accomplished creative and strategic business executives Susan Rovner and Brett Paul have been elevated to serve as Presidents of Warner Bros. Television (WBTV). Both will report to Roth. Simultaneously, the two will continue to serve as Presidents of Warner Horizon Scripted Television (WHSTV), the Television Group’s production unit for original scripted programming for the cable marketplace, which they have overseen together since March 2014. As the Presidents of both WBTV and WHSTV, Rovner and Paul will now jointly have day-to-day management of all scripted television programming developed and produced by the Studio, a total of more than 60 current original series combined between the two labels.
Formerly Executive Vice Presidents of WBTV, Rovner and Paul have been instrumental in spearheading Warner Bros. Television Group’s creative and business expansion to develop series for on-demand/streaming services and increased its output for premium and basic cable, while maintaining its position as an industry leader in production for the broadcast marketplace. Of the Television Group’s 60+ live-action scripted series, 60% are now produced for on-demand/subscription services or cable. And the Television Group maintains major exclusive overall deals with key producers such as Chuck Lorre, Greg Berlanti, Ava DuVernay, Mindy Kaling, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and others, continuing the company’s on-going strategic commitment to collaborate with the finest creators in the industry and support their vision by taking advantage of the artistic freedoms that an independent studio can provide.
In addition to supplying programming to all five broadcast networks as well as WarnerMedia-affiliated platforms such as HBO, TNT, TBS, the DC UNIVERSE digital service, and the upcoming WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer digital service, WBTV and WHSTV are producing series for Apple TV+, EPIX, Freeform, Hulu, National Geographic, Netflix, OWN, Showtime and SYFY, with additional projects in active development at Amazon, BET, Facebook, History Channel, Lifetime, the Paramount Network, USA and more.
Peter Roth said: “Susan and Brett have been fundamental to the success of the Warner Bros. Television Group for more than 20 years. At Warner Bros., we are incredibly fortunate to be associated with some of the most accomplished writers, producers and creative talent in the world. Through a combination of great passion to discover new material, a world-class collaborative spirit, insightful guidance and a restless vision for the future, Susan has been instrumental in creating an environment that allows these generational talents to flourish. As the division’s top negotiator and advisor, Brett’s thoughtful counsel, creative approach to dealmaking, and expansive view of the television landscape has been instrumental to ensuring that Warner Bros. is well positioned for sustained growth and success over the next 20 years, during a time of great opportunity in our industry.”
Susan Rovner said: “I am truly honored and unbelievably excited to have the opportunity to lead the outstanding team we have here at Warner Bros. Television. This Studio has been my home for more than 20 years, and I could not be happier to continue to come to work at such a special place, under the incomparable leadership of Peter Roth. I have spent the majority of my career here, and I am extremely grateful for the confidence Peter has shown in me. Brett and I look forward to helping to write the next chapter in the WBTV success story.”
Brett Paul said: “For more than 20 years, I have been excited to work with the indefatigable Peter Roth, a team of incredible colleagues, and the talented writers, producers and performers with whom we build deep, protective and long-lasting relationships, and who call this place home. I am thrilled, honored and humbled by the responsibility and opportunity this new position presents. Our industry has experienced a period of rapid and radical evolution. In the last five years, we have transitioned from a company principally focused on broadcast television into a multiplatform studio, with an expanded production footprint and more than half of our programming premiering on cable (both premium and basic) and subscription/on-demand services. Susan and I intend to continue to build on that momentum, and with the exciting structural changes in our own backyard, we look forward to leading WBTV and WHSTV into a most exciting future.”
In her new role, Rovner will have responsibility for creative affairs at both WBTV and WHSTV. She will continue to oversee WBTV’s drama and comedy development teams, while adding oversight for the current programming group. She will also continue to lead WHSTV’s programming staff. During her more than 20 years at the Studio, Rovner has personally developed or overseen the development of some of the company’s most important and successful programs, including 18 series that have reached the 100-episode milestone or will do so during the 2019–20 television season. She has worked closely with highly influential producers such as Greg Berlanti, J.J. Abrams, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Elizabeth Banks, Ava DuVernay, Bruno Heller, I. Marlene King, Michael Patrick King, Bill Lawrence, Damon Lindelof, Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, Julie Plec, Rob Thomas, John Wells and more.
Current WBTV signature series developed during Rovner’s tenure include "Arrow,” “Black Lightning,” “The Flash,” “Riverdale,” “Supergirl”and“Supernatural”for The CW;“Gotham”for FOX, which recently concluded its five-season run;“Shameless”for Showtime;“Castle Rock”;and“Shrill” for Hulu; “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” for Netflix; “Doom Patrol” and “Titans” for DC UNIVERSE; and “Westworld” for HBO, among many others. Highly anticipated upcoming series include “AJ and the Queen” for Netflix, “Little Voice” for Apple TV+, “Veronica Mars” for Hulu, “Watchmen” for HBO and many more. Five of seven new series developed under Rovner’s direction for the 2018–19 broadcast television season — “Manifest” for NBC (TV’s #1 new scripted series among Adults 18–49) and “God Friended Me” for CBS, plus “All American,” “Legacies” and “Roswell, New Mexico” for The CW — have been renewed for 2019–20. At the recently concluded May 2019 broadcast network upfront presentations, Rovner’s team scored new series orders for the highly anticipated “Batwoman” and “Katy Keene” at The CW, “All Rise” at CBS and “Prodigal Son” at FOX.
As the top business executive at WBTV and WHSTV, Paul is tasked with the strategic direction for each division in a multiplatform media landscape. He has direct operational oversight of physical production, business affairs, estimating and administration for both divisions, and shared oversight of divisional legal and finance with Warner Bros. corporate. During his tenure with the Studio, he has personally led or been central to the Studio’s structure and negotiation of several high-profile writer/producer/pod agreements, including Chuck Lorre, Greg Berlanti, J.J. Abrams/Bad Robot Productions, Michael Patrick King, Damon Lindelof, John Wells Productions, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Archie Comics, Inc., and many others, most recently Ava DuVernay and Mindy Kaling. He has also overseen the Studio’s highest-profile talent agreements, including the long-term renegotiations for the casts of “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Shameless,” “Supernatural” and many others.
Paul began his career at the Studio in 1995 as Vice President, Business Affairs, WBTV, before being promoted to Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, Operations and Finance, in January 2006. Before joining WBTV, he was a member of the senior management team at All American Communications, and he previously worked as a corporate legal associate at both Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger in Southern California and at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel in New York. Paul has served on the Board of Directors of the Forum on Law, Culture & Society since 2008.
Warner Horizon Scripted Television’s programming slate jointly overseen by Rovner and Paul includes “Animal Kingdom” and “Claws” for TNT; “Cherish the Day,” “David Makes Man” and “Queen Sugar” for OWN; “Fuller House,” “Medical Police” and “You” for Netflix; “Krypton” for SYFY; “Pennyworth” for EPIX; “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists” for Freeform; and “The Right Stuff” for National Geographic.
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