Editing Garth Ancier

{{Short description|American television producer media executive}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Garth Ancier
| image              = 
| birthname          = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1957|9|3}}<ref>''Who's Who''. 2008 ed., Vol. 1, p. 94</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = Media executive
| spouse             = 
| alma_mater         = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Garth Ancier''' (born September 3, 1957) is an American film and television producer and media executive.

==Early life==
Ancier graduated from the [[Lawrenceville School]] in 1975<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawrenceville.org/about/history/notable-alumni/index.aspx |title=Notable alumni > Business |publisher=The Lawrenceville School |accessdate=October 16, 2014 |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109003646/http://www.lawrenceville.org/about/history/notable-alumni/index.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Princeton University]] in 1979.<ref name="variety1999"/>

He began his broadcasting career as a [[high school]] [[wiktionary:sophomore|sophomore]] in 1972, working as a [[reporter]] for [[NBC]] radio affiliates WBUD-AM and WBJH-FM in [[Trenton, New Jersey]].<ref name="variety1999">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/ancier-rejoins-big-three-1117758192/ |title=Ancier rejoins big three |magazine=Variety |date=November 17, 1999 |first=Josef |last=Adalian |accessdate=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> In radio, he created ''American Focus'', a weekly national interview program carried by over 300 radio stations in the U.S., including New York's [[WNBC]], under the non-profit Focus on Youth.<ref name="nyt1984">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/11/nyregion/student-run-radio-show-is-focusing-on-america.html |title=Student-run radio show is focusing on America|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 11, 1984 |accessdate=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> Ancier served as [[executive producer]] and host of over 250 episodes through 1979, each featuring a full-length career retrospective interview with guests ranging from [[Ayn Rand]] to [[Henry Fonda]] to [[David Brinkley]].  The show continued production for 17 years.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} Other guests included presidents [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Gerald R. Ford]], [[George H. W. Bush]], and [[Caspar W. Weinberger]], [[Lucille Ball]], [[Howard Cosell]], [[Henry Fonda]], [[Tom Wolfe]] and [[Pete Rose]]. Five hundred of its programs were given to what is now known as the [[Paley Center for Media]] in 1984.<ref name="nyt1984"/>

==Career==
Ancier's network [[television]] [[career]] began in 1979<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/worldwide/garth_ancier.shtml|title=Biographies: Garth Ancier|publisher=BBC Press Office|accessdate=May 31, 2009}}</ref> when [[NBC|NBC Entertainment]] president [[Brandon Tartikoff]] hired him as a program associate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/09/03/young-garth-ancier-has-fox-by-the-tail/ |title=Young Garth Ancier Has Fox by the Tail |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=September 3, 1986 |first=Jerry |last=Buck |access-date=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> He rose through the ranks and supervised production of the network's top [[comedy|comedies]] including ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[Family Ties]]'' and ''[[Golden Girls]]''.

In 1986, [[Barry Diller]], [[Jamie Kellner]] and [[Rupert Murdoch]] tapped the then 28-year-old Ancier to be the founding entertainment president for the new [[Fox Broadcasting Company]],<ref name=vty>{{cite news|last1=Adalian|first1=Josef|last2=Schneider|first2=Michael|title=Peacock Zucker-punched|url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/peacock-zucker-punched-1117790536/|accessdate=February 17, 2015|work=Variety|date=December 13, 2000}}</ref> where he put ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'', ''[[21 Jump Street]]'', ''[[Married... with Children]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[In Living Color]]'', ''[[America's Most Wanted]]'', and ''[[Cops (TV program)|COPS]]'' on the air.

Ancier went from Fox (resigning March 1, 1989) to [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] as president of network television for [[The Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] on April 18, 1989.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Haitman|first1=Diane|title=Disney TV Chief Heads Back to Mainstream|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-30-ca-1044-story.html|access-date=June 4, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 30, 1989}}</ref> He developed ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' and oversaw Disney's signature franchise ''[[The Magical World of Disney]]'', hosted by Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]].

From October 1991 through July 1992, Ancier served as the television consultant to the [[Democratic National Committee]], specifically to advise on the television presentation of the Democratic Convention in [[New York City]] and reporting to DNC Chairman Ron Brown. In that role, Ancier introduced political convention format innovations, such as a 56-screen "videowall" integrated into the convention podium and program, to such forums for the first time. Later on, Ancier's production company developed and produced the talk show ''[[Jane Pratt]]'', which debuted in mid-March 1992 on [[WNYW|WNYW-TV]] in New York City and was intended for nationwide launch. However, despite good ratings, the show ended after only 11 weeks in production, as co-producer and distributor [[20th Television]] felt it was too expensive for them to seek a return on their investment in the program.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 15, 1992|title=Production is halted on 'Jane'|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-06-15-OCR-Page-0018.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=December 14, 1992|title=Can we talk? New for 1993|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-12-14-OCR-Page-0026.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2021}}</ref>

Also in late 1992, Ancier co-created and executive produced ''[[Ricki Lake (TV series)|Ricki Lake]]''<ref name=vty/> with former ''[[The Phil Donahue Show|Donahue]]'' producer Gail Steinberg. The [[tabloid talk show]] aired for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004.

In 1994, Ancier re-teamed with Fox colleague [[Jamie Kellner]] and Warner Bros. CEO [[Barry Meyer]] to launch [[The WB]] as its chief [[programmer]] from 1994 to 1999,<ref name=vty/> where he helped put ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'', ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''[[Charmed (TV series)|Charmed]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]'', ''[[The Steve Harvey Show]]'' and ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]'' on the air.

Beginning in May 1999, Ancier served as [[President (corporate title)|president]] of [[NBC|NBC Entertainment]],<ref name=vty/> where he helped put ''[[The West Wing]]'' and ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' on the air,{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} while conversely being the one who cancelled the 1999 teen [[Comedy drama|dramedy]] series ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', a move over which in 2014 he wrote that it was "an awful decision that has haunted me forever".<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://time.com/3510124/freaks-and-geeks-seth-rogen-canceled/ | magazine=Time | first=Eliana | last=Dockterman | title=Seth Rogen Confronted the Guy Who Canceled Freaks and Geeks | date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> Ancier was forced out from NBC in November 2000.<ref name=vty/>

Ancier returned to what had become [[WarnerMedia|AOL Time Warner]] in 2001 as EVP, Programming for [[Turner Broadcasting]]<ref name=thr>{{cite news|last1=Nordyke|first1=Kimberly|title=Ancier carries flag for the BBC|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ancier-carries-flag-bbc-130207|accessdate=February 17, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|agency=Associated Press|date=February 14, 2007}}</ref> (including the WB) and programmed [[CNN]], [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]], [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]], etc., where he launched CNN's ''[[American Morning]]'' and its signature 10PM newscast with [[Anderson Cooper]], as well as expanded [[Adult Swim]] on [[Cartoon Network]] by acquiring the then-cancelled ''[[Family Guy]]'' series from 20th Century Fox.

Ancier returned to The WB as co-chairman in September 2003,{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} then became the [[Chairman]] of the [[WB Television Network]] from May 2004 until its merger with [[UPN]] to form [[The CW Television Network|The CW]] in September 2006,<ref name=thr/> during which ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'' and ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'' were launched.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} He was transferred to run In2TV, the Warners/AOL broadband television network.<ref name=thr/> Through the Garth Ancier Company, he was developing a talk show at the pilot stage while negotiating a potential network, cable and first-run syndicated shows deal with [[Telepictures]] and Warner Horizon as of October 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nordyke|first1=Kimberly|title=Ancier talker in the works at Telepictures|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ancier-talker-works-at-telepictures-139388|accessdate=February 17, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|agency=Associated Press|date=October 9, 2006}}</ref>

He served as first president of [[BBC Worldwide]] America from February 2007–March 2010,<ref name=thr/> where he launched [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|''Top Gear'']], ''[[Torchwood]]'', and DC produced ''[[BBC World News America]]'' (BBC's first American produced daily newscast) on [[BBC America]]. Ancier also moved BBC's iconic ''[[Doctor Who]]'' series from the [[Syfy]] network to [[BBC America]] and prepared [[CBeebies]] for a US launch. Ancier was able to increase by 78% BBC Worldwide America's profit and was to continue to hold a director's seat on its board after his departure from management was planned for March 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/garth-ancier-exiting-bbc-worldwide-91552 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Nellie | last=Andreeva | title=Garth Ancier exiting BBC Worldwide America | date=November 19, 2009}}</ref>

In April 2013, Ancier formed Zeus Media Partners, Inc. as a retro cable network company to provide four decade focused channels (1960s–1990s), later called The Quad.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=Garth Ancier Lines Up TV Vets to Launch Four Retro Cable Nets|url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/garth-ancier-lines-up-tv-vets-to-launch-four-retro-cable-nets-exclusive-1200490723/|accessdate=February 13, 2015|work=Variety|date=May 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Quad Media Partners|work=garthancier.com}}</ref>

Ancier has worked for a number of media corporations as a senior advisor to management on [[digital streaming]], [[Subscription video on demand|SVOD]] and [[vMVPD]] projects.  His most notable clients have been [[Intel]] Media on a virtual-[[Multiple system operator|MSO]] system,<ref>Wallenstein, Andrew, [https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/garth-ancier-advises-intel-on-virtual-mso-plan-1118053710/ "Garth Ancier advises Intel on virtual-MSO plan"], ''Variety'', May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2019.</ref> and [[Vimeo#Overview|IAC/Vimeo]].{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

He is also known for being one of only two people (the other being [[Fred Silverman]]) to have programmed three of the five American broadcast television networks (founding programmer at [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], founding programmer at [[The WB]] (now [[The CW]]), and [[NBCUniversal Television Group|NBC Entertainment]]).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/21/business/former-nbc-official-takes-job-at-turner.html "Former NBC official takes job at Turner"], ''The New York Times'', March 21, 2001.
*Finke, Nikki, [https://deadline.com/2009/11/garth-ancier-stepping-down-as-president-of-bbc-america-in-u-s-will-remain-non-executive-director-of-bbc-worldwide-america-18927/ "Garth Ancier Stepping Down As President Of BBC America In U.S.; In Works Since July"], November 19, 2009.

{{Presidents of NBC Entertainment}}
{{Presidents of Fox Broadcasting Company Entertainment}}
{{Presidents of The CW Television Network}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ancier, Garth}}
[[Category:BBC people]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Perth Amboy, New Jersey]]
[[Category:NBCUniversal people]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. people]]
[[Category:NBC executives]]
[[Category:Presidents of NBC Entertainment]]
[[Category:The WB executives]]
[[Category:Princeton University alumni]]
[[Category:Lawrenceville School alumni]]
[[Category:Presidents of Fox Broadcasting Company Entertainment]]