Gerber Named Chairman of MGM/UA TV Productions

MGM/UA Communications, which is restructuring under new management, promoted veteran television producer David Gerber to chairman and chief executive of its new Television Productions Group. He will also be nominated to the firm’s board.

Gerber, who previously was president of MGM/UA Television Productions, will be responsible for network TV productions, first-run TV production, cable programming and international co-productions.

Gerber will also oversee the licensing of MGM/UA feature films to TV networks and will develop several low-budget films in a coordinated effort with Richard Berger, president and chief operating officer of MGM/UA Film Group.

Jeff Barbakow, recently hired as chairman and MGM/UA chief executive, last week promoted Berger from his post as MGM executive vice president-production. Before the restructuring, MGM and United Artists made films separately.

Gerber has been with MGM/UA since moving his independent production company there from Columbia Pictures Television in 1981. Gerber and his staff have produced the successful series “thirtysomething” and “In the Heat of the Night” and such movies of the week as “Inherit the Wind” recently for MGM/UA.