Jamie Kellner
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Biography
Jamie Kellner has earned his place as a broadcast network pioneer, although the inception of his networks came years after those founded by the likes of Sarnoff, Paley and Goldenson. Kellner has been the executive-in-charge building both the Fox network and The WB, as well as starting "networks" for kids as well. Under his aegis, Fox went from being a sputtering also-ran to challenging the established three networks in demographic profiles and, in its first few years, The WB has built a niche with such programs as "Sister, Sister" and "The Parent 'Hood".
Raised on Long Island, NY, Kellner began his career with CBS Broadcasting and worked for Viacom before joining Orion in 1979. He eventually became president of the Orion Entertainment Group, supervising the sale of "Cagney & Lacey" into aftermarkets as well as the syndicated launch of "Saturday Night Live". Kellner moved to Fox in early 1986 as president, remaining there for eight years. During his tenure, Fox launched such successful series as "The Simpsons", "Married ... With Children", "In Living Color", "Beverly Hills, 90210", "Melrose Place", "America's Most Wanted" and others. The Fox Children's Network, which today leads the other broadcast networks in delivering the age 2 to 12 Nielsens was also created. Kellner was the first network head to recognize the role of cable and satellites to assist in the distribution of broadcast networks.
In July 1993, Kellner formed a joint venture with Warner Bros. and the Tribune Company to build yet another new broadcast network. In large measure, The WB was committed to programs potentially appealing to the entire family. One of its earliest moves was to buy the sitcom "Sister, Sister" (which had been dumped by ABC) from De Passe Entertainment; it has performed well for the fledgling network. Another modest success was "7th Heaven", an hour-long drama from Spelling Entertainment that focused on a minister and his family. The WB made an attempt to attract "star" talent by luring Tom Arnold and Shelley Long to headline sitcoms for the 1997-98 season. Kellner has also been strategic is developing "Kids' WB!" which broadcasts such programs as an animated "Superman", the award-winning "Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs" and "Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain" and "The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries".
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