SPT restructures after Mosko exit

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has restructured its television division following the exit of unit chairman Steve Mosko.

Steve Mosko

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) veteran Mosko’s departure will see SPT’s divisional chiefs, including Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, and presidents of programming and production taking on his duties.

Van Amburg and Erlicht will report to SPE CEO Michael Lynton, as will Andy Kaplan, president of Worldwide Networks; Keith Le Goy, president of distribution; and Amy Carney, president of advertiser sales and research.

Sony said the changes were designed to “streamline management within the television unit and – by having them report directly to SPE’s CEO – more fully integrate SPT into the broader SPE business.”

It comes after numerous reports, and emails that emerged following the hacking scandal in 2014, detailed a rift between SPT and SPE and Mosko and Lynton.

“I want to thank Steve for his many years of service at Sony Pictures and for helping to build SPT into the one of the strongest television studios in the business,” the SPE chief said in a statement.

“Steve has overseen some of SPT’s greatest triumphs and I wish him the very best in the next chapter of his career,” said Lynton, adding that the divisional chiefs would help to “lead our TV business to even greater heights.”

Mosko has overseen a burgeoning slate during his time at SPT, with shows including The Blacklist for NBC, The Goldbergs for ABC, and Masters of Sex and Better Call Saul for Showtime and AMC respectively.

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.

Speaking at an event last night that had been scheduled prior to the news of his departure, Mosko played down any notion of a fall-out with Lynton, saying the pair had had a “pretty good run” during 13 years working together and that his exit had been “brewing for a while.”

Van Amburg, who joined the studio in 1997, and Erlicht, who arrived in 2002, have overseen numerous shows since being appointed presidents of US programming and production in 2005, including Rescue Me, The Shield, Breaking Bad and Shark Tank.

Kaplan oversees SPT’s branded networks, including AXN, Sony Channel, Animax, and Crackle, as well as SPT’s majority stake in GSN (a joint venture with AT&T). He also oversaw the growth of Sony Pictures Networks India.

Le Goy, meanwhile, has served as president, international distribution, for SPT since 2008 and manages all global distribution for SPT.