ABC's sports might
ESPN's Katz shuffles to prexy ABC Sports
Katz, who begins his new job immediately, replaces Steve Bornstein, the former ESPN/ABC Sports topper upped to president of ABC Inc. earlier this month. Katz will report to ABC Television Network prexy Pat Fili-Krushel, who announced the appointment Thursday.
ABC Sports exec VP Brian McAndrews, who had been responsible for the day-to-day operation of the division, was on vacation Thursday and unavailable for comment. But ABC sources expect McAndrews to ankle the net or take on another role in the company in the wake of Katz's appointment.
Identity crisis
Despite an impressive roster of sports holdings such as "Monday Night Football," college football, PGA golf, the Indy 500 and horse racing's Triple Crown, many TV sports insiders stopped thinking of ABC Sports as a distinct entity after Bornstein was tapped to run both ESPN and ABC Sports a few years ago.
ABC Sports staffers were also uncomfortable with the ESPNization of the division, which extended even to the on-air look of Alphabet web sports broadcasts.
Katz, who worked as a production assistant at ABC Sports during the early part of his career, acknowledged internal problems at ABC Sports and said his appointment should be read as a clear signal that the division will reassert its own identity.
Morale concern
"I think there is a concern about morale, a real concern," he told Daily Variety. "I came back because I really think I can make a difference ... I did not come here to shut down ABC Sports."
Katz added that his "charge is to try to rejuvenate" the division rather than simply increase synergy with ESPN.
"I don't think at this point in time they can be combined into one enterprise," he said. ABC Sports "has got to be an asset. It can't just be a pass through, a distribution platform ... It's got to have an identity. It's got to be special."
While not willing to discuss specifics, Katz hinted that "Monday Night Football" would once again become a distinct brand at ABC rather than existing, with ESPN's Sunday Night Football, as one-half of Disney's primetime pigskin package.
30th anniversary
"I don't think the two (telecasts) need to be identical. It's going to be the 30th year of 'Monday Night Football,' and we'll have the Super Bowl, so there's an opportunity to get some of the sizzle back," Katz said.
Still, Katz said ESPN and ABC Sports will continue to work together closely, particularly when it comes to seeking sports rights packages.
Katz comes to ABC Sports with 28 years experience in sports broadcasting. Before joining ESPN in 1993 as senior VP of production, he spent 10 years as prexy and chief operating officer of OCC, the sports production company founded by NBC West Coast prexy Don Ohlmeyer.
This sporting life
From 1974 to 1983, Katz was VP of Trans World International, where he ran the company's TV production and program development arms.
Katz's position at ESPN will be filled by Steve Anderson, who most recently was senior VP of production at ABC Sports. The all-sports cabler Thursday named Anderson exec VP of production and technical operations.
Before joining ABC, Anderson spent 14 years working in various production positions at ESPN. He'll report to ESPN prexy George Bodenheimer.
