Please wait...
Please wait...

Roth to exit Warner Bros after 22 years

Television industry veteran Peter Roth will step down from his role as chairman of Warner Bros Television Group next year after more than two decades atop the US studio.

Peter Roth

Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia studios and networks group, announced Roth will give up his studio responsibilities in early 2021.

The move marks the latest high-profile departure from the US media giant, which has seen a number of top execs leave in 2020 as part of a major restructure led by CEO Jason Kilar.

Susan Rovner announced recently she was leaving to join NBCUniversal after two decades with Warner Bros and former Netflix exec Channing Dungey has been tipped to take on her responsibilities as well as Roth’s.

Roth is credited with signing a number of landmark exclusive overall deals with key producers during his time with the studio, which has been the most prolific in Hollywood under his tenure.

These include Chuck Lorre, Greg Berlanti, JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot Productions, Ava DuVernay, John Wells, Damon Lindelof, Mindy Kaling, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Elizabeth Banks and Bruno Heller.

Roth joined the company in March 1999 as president of Warner Bros Television Group. During his 22 years leading the studio’s television production business, 32 scripted primetime series developed under his leadership have reached the coveted 100-episode milestone.

These include The Big Bang Theory, Two & a Half Men, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Gossip Girl, Shameless, Nip/Tuck, The Mentalist, Pretty Little Liars and Arrow.

Roth came to Warner Bros Television after having served as president of Fox Entertainment, where he was responsible for the development and programming of Ally McBeal, That ’70s Show and Family Guy.

Prior to working at the network, he served as president of production at Twentieth Network Television, currently 20th Century Fox Television Productions, where he oversaw the development and sales of The X Files, Picket Fences, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Practice and King of the Hill.

Prior to joining Twentieth Television Corp, Roth was president of Stephen J Cannell Productions for six years and was involved with the creation and sale of series such as as 21 Jump Street and The Commish.

He previously spent 10 years at broadcast network ABC, where he began his TV career in 1976 as manager of children’s programmes.

“Peter and I have been meeting for some time about this and while there’s never a great moment to say goodbye, he felt that this was the right time to transition in a new leader for the group,” said Sarnoff.

“He’s delivered hundreds of shows, thousands of episodes, millions of viewers, with one singular vision – to work with the best people and to make the best television series.

“In addition to being well respected by his colleagues and competitors, actors, writers, directors and producers, he is the force behind iconic, pop-culture-defining television shows we all know and love, including The West Wing, The Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, The Flash and countless others. We’re thankful for his contributions to our company and wish him the very best.”

Roth said: “Working at Warner Bros has been the greatest, most meaningful, most rewarding experience of my career. For the past 22 years, I have had the privilege to be associated with some of the most inspiring creative talent, the most impactful television series and the most dedicated and passionate people I have ever known.

“It has long been my dream to be able to say farewell at the right time in the right way and for the right reason. I’m grateful to Ann Sarnoff for giving me that opportunity and to my Warner Bros colleagues, past and present, for giving me what has been the gift of a lifetime. I look forward to the next chapter of my career and remaining connected to those people who have meant so much to me.”

Warner Bros Television Group is part of WarnerMedia’s new studios and networks group which aligns the company’s content-focused teams, bringing together the WB Pictures Group, HBO and HBO Max, WBTV, DC, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, TCM, Cartoon Network Studios, WB Animation, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Wizarding World, consumer products, experiences and gaming.

RELATED ARTICLES

Please wait...