Television, From Many Sides

MOST of the kids in my neighborhood were going to be doctors or lawyers, so I enrolled in pre-med at the State University of New York at Binghamton. But when it was time to take the Medical College Admission Test, I walked into the test center and walked right back out. I really had no interest in being a doctor.

JEFF GASPIN

President and chief operating officer, Universal Television Group

BIRTH DATE Dec. 29, 1960

BIRTHPLACE Queens, N.Y.

FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY Larry David of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

NUMBER OF TVS IN HIS HOUSE 9

I transferred to the business school and got a degree in organizational psychology. Afterward, I enrolled in New York University for a Ph.D. in corporate strategy, but that wasn’t for me either. I lasted a year and transferred to the business school again and got an M.B.A.

My first job, in 1984, was as manager of ad sales pricing for NBC’s local stations. I thought, “At least I’m not working in a bank.” Then I moved to the entertainment division and did the budgeting for programs that included David Letterman’s show and “Days of Our Lives.”

Next I did budgeting in the news division. The company held a writing contest every year, and the winner got to have lunch with Brandon Tartikoff, the president of NBC Entertainment. To anyone who wanted to be in the business in a creative way, he was a god.

I submitted a script for the sitcom “Family Ties” and came in third.

As a finalist, my name was published in a company magazine that year. I was holding it during an elevator ride with Michael Gartner, president of NBC News at the time, who was on the cover. We started talking, and he ended up making me acting chief financial officer for NBC News.

In 1989, I was promoted to head of programming for NBC News, but I knew little about the job. I entered a training program and found a mentor in Dick Ebersol of NBC Sports. When I returned to the news division, we extended the “Today” show to seven days a week, and I developed three new daytime shows.

Then, in 1992, came my biggest heartbreak. I had also helped create “Dateline NBC.” During a story we were doing on truck safety, an incendiary device was placed in a truck, and General Motors said we falsified the report. NBC News got a red mark, Mike Gartner resigned, and I was let go four months later when a new president was named.

Next I worked at QVC with Barry Diller. He used to say: “I have 20 more years in this business than you do. We’re doing it my way unless you can prove to me your way is better.” I’ve never forgotten that philosophy.

After that I went to VH-1, where I finally overcame any self-doubt about whether I was a creative leader. In 1996, I created “Behind the Music,” and Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, took notice. Several years later he called and asked me to rejoin NBC. I think one of the reasons I returned was that it confirmed I was fired because of circumstances. It had nothing to do with me personally.

NBC bought the Bravo network and asked me to run it. Bravo had a pilot called “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Everyone said the title would scare advertisers away. I thought it would put Bravo on the map, and I put the entire promotional budget behind the show. It made the cover of Entertainment Weekly its second week on the air.

Now I’m in charge of a new division, Universal Television Group, which includes Telemundo and cable channels such as USA, Sci Fi, and Bravo.

Distribution used to be a simple chain. Programs went from the network to syndication to cable. Then DVD was added. Now there is online streaming, video on demand and digital download. The new platforms are not yet as profitable as the traditional channels. The challenge is to continue to grow in every way. It’s a tricky game.

As told to Patricia R. Olsen.

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