The Walt Disney Co. named ESPN Chair/ABC Sports
President Steve Bornstein to President of ABC Inc.
Bornstein succeeds Bob Iger, who will become President of
Walt Disney Int'l and Chair of the ABC Group (ABC). The
WALL STREET JOURNAL's Bruce Orwall reports that Bornstein
will take over day-to-day responsibilities for ABC,
including overseeing the ABC broadcast network, all company-
owned TV and radio stations, the ESPN networks and the
Disney Channel. Orwall notes that Bornstein's "profile"
within Disney "has rocketed in recent years as ESPN's
fortunes have risen." Disney "doesn't plan" to name a
successor to Bornstein, but ESPN President George
Bodenheimer will assume "additional responsibilities."
Bornstein "declined to discuss" his new position (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 2/26). But USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes
that Bornstein's President and Exec Producer positions at
ABC "will have to be filled," and notes possible
replacements include HBO's Ross Greenburg, Fox's John
Filippelli and Turner's Mike Pearl (USA TODAY, 2/26).
WHAT IT MEANS FOR STEVE: In N.Y., Geraldine Fabrikant
writes that "some longtime Disney experts" see the
appointment of Iger as "a graceful way to remove" him from
"direct day-to-day responsibilities at ABC, which continues
to face ratings problems." One executive said "privately"
that Disney "might have wanted to give" Bornstein a "larger
role in programming because he had done an impressive job at
ESPN" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/26). DAILY VARIETY's Hontz & Adalian
report that Disney CEO Michael Eisner "hinted" that
Bornstein would be "most active in strengthening the ABC-
owned cable properties that don't already report to him,"
and sources say he will "rework the net's relationship with
its affiliates." One source: "Bornstein's perfect for that.
He's well-liked, but a bit of a pitbull" (DAILY VARIETY,
2/26). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Stephen Battaglio reports
that affil owner groups are "likely to find Bornstein to be
more combative," as he is "known as a tough administrator"
who "grew up in the world of cable" and "is not bound to the
traditions of broadcast" TV (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 2/26).
