Agoglia adds NBC Prods. prexy to title

By VARIETY STAFF

John J. Agoglia has been promoted to president of NBC Prods., the network's in-house production arm, in addition to his existing title and duties as chief of NBC Enterprises.

Agoglia was previously exec VP at the production unit and has been its top exec since 1991, when Brandon Tartikoff--who headed NBCP as well as NBC Entertainment--left the network.

The announcement follows by one day the naming of Don Ohlmeyer as prez of NBC , West Coast, a new position that created a management layer between Agoglia and NBC Entertainment chief Warren Littlefield and network president Robert Wright.

Agoglia's responsibilities include overseeing NBC Prods. as well as network business affairs and both its foreign and domestic distribution operations.

He had been exec VP at NBCP since 1984, and the promotion seems timed to reinforce his standing at the web in the wake of Ohlmeyer's appointment.

"Don and I are not strangers to each other," Agoglia said, adding that Ohlmeyer's decision to elevate him as his first official act demonstrates the faith the new prexy has in the in-house unit.

In a statement, Ohlmeyer called the move recognition of the "tremendous job" Agoglia has been doing in overseeing the production operation.

While many observers felt the addition of Ohlmeyer boded ill for NBC's West Coast honchos, Agoglia maintained that having a Burbank-based boss would expedite the decision-making process and allow for an expansion of activities through NBC Prods., citing both his and Ohlmeyer's entrepreneurial bent.

He added that he was glad to be freed from worrying about the facilities side of the Burbank lot, with oversight of that area passing to broadcast and network operations prez Randel Falco (see related story, page 46).

NBC has clearly become more active supplying its own series, producing such prime time shows as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,""Out All Night" and "Secret Service" in addition to most of NBC's Saturday-morning lineup (including teen hit "Saved by the Bell") and late night offerings "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Prods. has also been a prolific maker of TV movies and minis.

Agoglia came to NBC as VP, program and talent negotiations, in 1979 after 14 years at CBS in N.Y. Since that time he's moved through NBC's exec ranks, adding responsibility for NBC Enterprises when it was integrated into the web in 1987 and becoming prexy of that international marketing wing three years later.