Bob Silberberg, who spent more than two decades as a sales executive at ABC, died Thursday of pancreatic cancer in Boynton Beach, Florida, his son Michael announced. He was 83.
Silberberg joined ABC as an assistant daytime sales manager in 1966 and remained with the network into the late ‘80s, ultimately as senior vp and general sales manager, before moving to CBS as vp sales for news, daytime and children’s programming.
He then served as executive vp and director of programming for Backer Spielvogel Bates, where he initiated a joint venture, BKS/Bates, that developed programming for the agency’s advertising clients.
BKS/Bates transitioned into Role Entertainment, an independent syndication company that distributed the Sid & Marty Krofft animated comedy D.C. Follies, among other shows.
Silberberg was still at Role with his business partner Leonard Koch at the time of his death.
After graduating from Baruch College in New York in 1955, Robert Silberberg was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He left the service in 1959, then worked in advertising at Benton & Bowles and then Needham Harper & Steers, where he served as a vice president and assistant media director.
In 2005, Silberberg was awarded the Baruch College Alumni of Distinction Award on the 50th anniversary of his graduation.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Sylvia; sons Steven, Gary and Michael; and grandchildren David, Briana, Adam, Lia and Molly.
