Ted Harbert, who ankled his post as ABC Entertainment chairman on Saturday, has inked an exclusive production deal with DreamWorks Network Television.
The multi-million dollar, two-and- a-half-year deal also calls for Harbert to become an executive producer on "Arsenio," DreamWorks' midseason comedy for ABC, starring Arsenio Hall, which makes its debut next month. Harbert joins executive producers Tim O'Donnell and Hall on the show, which lost its first executive producer, David Rosenthal, last month. Harbert will work on 10 episodes of the 13-episode order.
It had been speculated that Harbert, 41, would join DreamWorks since he made his plans to exit ABC official last month (Daily Variety, Jan. 8). Harbert has a close relationship with DreamWorks principal Jeffrey Katzenberg and the two hammered out a tentative deal during the last two days.
As part of Harbert's deal with DreamWorks, he will get an ownership stake in "Arsenio" as well as other shows that he gets off the ground. Should "Arsenio" and/or other shows Harbert is involved in last long enough for syndication, it would be a huge payday in terms of the backend.
His salary is also said to be similar to what top executive producers are making, which puts the former ABC exec in the neighborhood of $3 million annually.
This marks Harbert's first job outside of ABC, where he spent 20 years. It is also his first post on the producing side of the business.
Harbert said he hopes his years with ABC will allow him to bring to DreamWorks "an ability to understand what the needs of a network are both in terms of the creative process and marketing and promotion. I offer those skills from my network executive days."
It also won't hurt to have a former network entertainment topper to lobby webheads for shows. Besides his obvious ties to ABC and parent company Walt Disney, Harbert also has a solid relationship with CBS and its entertainment division president, Leslie Moonves.
"To have a talent like Ted Harbert, who has 20 years of experience, go from the executive ranks to the producing side of the business is a unique and valuable opportunity," Katzenberg said, adding that Harbert will bring the production company a "tremendous wealth of experience and expertise."
DreamWorks Network Television head Dan McDermott added the "non-writing executive producer is the most sought after commodity, yet also tops the endangered species list," and that the addition of Harbert "is a coup for DreamWorks Television."
Although he didn't officially leave ABC until last week, Harbert has already been on the "Arsenio" set. He said he has a long relationship with O'Donnell and that all three (Hall, Harbert and O'Donnell) are on the same page with regard to the direction of the romantic comedy.
Harbert knows how much the show means to ABC, which needs a hit and is shelling out $900,000 per-episode in license fees for "Arsenio." The show makes its debut on Wednesday, March 5, in the 9:30 time slot currently occupied by "Ellen."
While Harbert had interest from other studios looking to tap him as an executive, he had said when leaving ABC that he wanted to be closer to the product. Sealing the deal for DreamWorks, he said, was the chance to jump right in and start working on "Arsenio."
Besides "Arsenio," Harbert will also start working with writers DreamWorks has landed as well as look to bring new talent to the company and develop shows from scratch.
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