Mosko to exit Sony

Steve Mosko is set to exit as chairman of Sony Pictures Television (SPT) after more than 20 years with the company.

Steve Mosko

The departure, widely reported in the US but yet to be confirmed by Sony, would come less than a year after Mosko was upped from president to chairman at SPT.

Mosko’s remit covers global TV production, distribution of feature-film and television content and the studio’s international networks across 180 countries, as well as streaming service Crackle.

He joined the company in 1992 and has overseen a slew of hit shows during his stint with the studio, including Days of Our Lives and Jeopardy!.

More recently, SPT has been behind crime drama The Blacklist for NBC and The Goldbergs for ABC, along with Masters of Sex and Better Call Saul for Showtime and AMC respectively.

Its success has seen SPT contribute around 60% of operating income to Sony Pictures Entertainment, while the parent company’s CEO, Michael Lynton, outlined plans in 2013 to shift focus to premium TV series. However, reports suggest difficulties over agreeing new terms to Mosko’s contract preceded his departure.

Five of SPT’s shows were sold to US networks at last month’s Upfronts, including spin-off The Blacklist: Redemption to NBC and comedy Kevin Can Wait to CBS.

Mosko’s replacement is yet to be decided, but presidents of programming and production Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg have been mooted as potential successors.

Yesterday Universal Television’s Bela Bajaria left her role as president at the studio, after five years at the company.