Elder to host WBDTD talk show
Elder with Viacom
Jan 29, 2004
Radio talk show veteran Larry Elder is set to host a new syndicated talk show for Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution that has already been licensed to the Viacom Television Stations Group for a fall launch.
While the Elder project has been talked about for some time, the anticipated Viacom station deal was confirmed in an announcement Wednesday by Dennis Swanson, executive vp and chief operating officer of Viacom Television Stations Group; Dick Robertson, president of WBDTD; and Jim Paratore, president of Telepictures Prods. and executive vp at WBDTD (HR 1/20). Paratore said the series is a "firm go" for September.
The deal gives Viacom the leeway to air the new talk strip on stations throughout its duopoly of CBS/UPN. "Larry has real crossover appeal, and that's why we believe he can work on either our CBS or UPN stations," Swanson said.
Although the show is designed for daytime, it is still not clear what stations it will wind up on in individual markets as Viacom eyes a number of shows on the bubble, including Viacom-owned King World's "Living It Up! With Ali & Jack."
This is not Elder's first outing under the WBDTD banner. Elder hosted WBDTD's "Moral Court" during the 2000-01 season. The show was canceled.
The new talk show format for Elder, who is described as a conservative libertarian, will take the form of a daily, hourlong, multitopic daytime talk show that will focus on "relatable topics in a responsible, compelling manner," according to the announcement.
Paratore said in an interview that the Viacom deal is another example of how WBDTD and Telepictures -- which have no aligned station groups -- have successfully maneuvered the waters of vertical integration. "At the end of the day, people need shows, and they need shows that are going to work for them -- if they can get them from themselves, that's fine," he said. "But we don't own stations. We make shows, and that's all we do. And if we can't do that, we are out of business."
He added that the show will be designed to highlight Elder's responsible attitude and common-sense approach to everyday problems.
Added Swanson: "In talk, it's all about the host, and Larry Elder has proven that he is the kind of intelligent, experienced television host who knows how to connect with viewers."
Elder hosts a four-hour talk radio block on KABC-AM in Los Angeles.
While the Elder project has been talked about for some time, the anticipated Viacom station deal was confirmed in an announcement Wednesday by Dennis Swanson, executive vp and chief operating officer of Viacom Television Stations Group; Dick Robertson, president of WBDTD; and Jim Paratore, president of Telepictures Prods. and executive vp at WBDTD (HR 1/20). Paratore said the series is a "firm go" for September.
The deal gives Viacom the leeway to air the new talk strip on stations throughout its duopoly of CBS/UPN. "Larry has real crossover appeal, and that's why we believe he can work on either our CBS or UPN stations," Swanson said.
Although the show is designed for daytime, it is still not clear what stations it will wind up on in individual markets as Viacom eyes a number of shows on the bubble, including Viacom-owned King World's "Living It Up! With Ali & Jack."
This is not Elder's first outing under the WBDTD banner. Elder hosted WBDTD's "Moral Court" during the 2000-01 season. The show was canceled.
The new talk show format for Elder, who is described as a conservative libertarian, will take the form of a daily, hourlong, multitopic daytime talk show that will focus on "relatable topics in a responsible, compelling manner," according to the announcement.
Paratore said in an interview that the Viacom deal is another example of how WBDTD and Telepictures -- which have no aligned station groups -- have successfully maneuvered the waters of vertical integration. "At the end of the day, people need shows, and they need shows that are going to work for them -- if they can get them from themselves, that's fine," he said. "But we don't own stations. We make shows, and that's all we do. And if we can't do that, we are out of business."
He added that the show will be designed to highlight Elder's responsible attitude and common-sense approach to everyday problems.
Added Swanson: "In talk, it's all about the host, and Larry Elder has proven that he is the kind of intelligent, experienced television host who knows how to connect with viewers."
Elder hosts a four-hour talk radio block on KABC-AM in Los Angeles.
Share on LinkedIn
