ABC's Bornstein Steps Down After Leaving His Undeniable Mark
ABC TV President Steve Bornstein, "a key player in building the hugely successful ESPN cable networks, is leaving" the Disney company, according to Flint & Orwall of the WALL STREET JOURNAL, who write Bornstein's departure "came as a surprise to people inside and outside the company," as he had been in his current position for about a year. ABC has been "struggling and its ratings are way down," and the network's problems have "only worsened during [Bornstein's] tenure." It is "unclear whether Mr. Bornstein will seek another executive job in the industry or will explore entrepreneurial options." Flint & Orwall write that while with ESPN, Bornstein "helped transform a single cable sports channel into an empire that now includes four networks, a magazine and branded restaurants. He did that by operating with an entrepreneurial zeal and a tough negotiating style that became legendary." But Bornstein has a "wry and contrary nature that may have clashed with the culture of Disney, where edicts from the top aren't often challenged" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/1). MULTICHANNEL NEWSDAY reports Bornstein's "abrupt resignation ... left his colleagues at both ESPN and ABC stunned," as Bornstein was "seen by many as the [ABC's] rescuer" (MND, 5/1). In DC, Lisa de Moraes: "The timing of his departure is highly unusual, coming just two weeks before ABC is scheduled to unveil next season's prime-time schedule to advertisers." Meanwhile, an ABC exec said that he "expects no replacement to be announced in the near future and that the position will be restructured" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/1).
WHY HE LEFT: In N.Y., Bill Carter cites "numerous current and past" ABC execs as saying that the move was "at least partly a result of Mr. Bornstein's frustration with the management structure at ABC and his own inability to mesh with the personalities and other senior managers" at the network and Disney (N.Y. TIMES, 5/1). In N.Y., Dan Cox cites sources as saying that Bornstein's relationship with Disney President & COO Bob Iger was "strained, to say the least" (N.Y. POST, 5/1). But USA TODAY reports of Bornstein's departure, "ABC's dismal ratings and revenue performance appear to have led to a major change ... in Disney's corporate lineup." ABC has "the smallest audience of the four biggest networks among the 18-to-49-year-old audience that advertisers covet" (USA TODAY, 5/1).
ACCOLADES: DAILY VARIETY's Josef Adalian notes Bornstein was "well-respected within the Disney organization for his work helping build ESPN into a cable powerhouse" (DAILY VARIETY, 5/1). In L.A., James & Lowry write industry insiders "describe Bornstein as a capable and decisive manager." But some said that he had the "nearly impossible task of working magic at some of Disney's most problematic divisions, including running ABC and Disney's Go.com" (L.A. TIMES, 5/1). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Scott Collins notes ESPN was "in its first year of operation when Bornstein joined as manager of programming" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/1).
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