After the departure of SETH ABRAHAM earlier this week, HBO Sports promoted ROSS GREENBURG from Senior VP & Exec Producer to President, reporting directly to HBO Chair & CEO JEFF BEWKES. Greenburg joined HBO in '78 and was named VP and Exec Producer of HBO Sports in '85. Greenburg will be responsible for planning and directing strategy for HBO Sports. In addition, HBO Sports also promoting MARK TAFFET to Senior VP/Marketing & Operations, TVKO and HBO Sports; KERY DAVIS to Senior VP/Programming, HBO Sports; BARBARA THOMAS to Senior VP/Finance & Talent, HBO Sports; and RICK BERNSTEIN to Senior VP & Exec Producer, HBO Sports (HBO Sports). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Michele Greppi writes that Greenburg's promotion "was not unexpected in light of the news" that Abraham was going to join MSG. Greenburg: "This was about as smooth a transition as you could get." Greenburg added that the company's "mantra is 'business as usual, and let's just keep all of our franchises intact.'" One of HBO's projects is a show with BOB COSTAS, which debuts February 14. Greenburg said it will "be a sports magazine show that you won't be able to say you've seen anywhere before" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/13). Greenburg also said that HBO "will continue to produce inhouse" four sports documentaries per year (DAILY VARIETY, 9/13). Greenburg: "The No. 1 priority for me is to maintain our pre-eminent position in boxing. We've had that ever since the late '70s and we want to keep it that way" (USA TODAY, 9/13).
