TV Executive Ancier Quits Post at Disney

Garth Ancier, hired by the Walt Disney Co. 1 1/2 years ago to strengthen Disney’s hand in television, resigned as head of network productions amid reports of a power struggle.

He leaves behind an expanded but still far from booming network television division at Disney, which, for all its success in the movie business, has produced one TV flop after another.

Neither Ancier nor Disney would comment Wednesday on his reason for leaving. No replacement was named.

“I’ve tremendously enjoyed my work here at Disney,” Ancier said in a statement, adding that he was “extremely proud that under my leadership we were able to bring on board some of the top executives and creators in the industry.”

Sources close to Disney’s network television operations said that Ancier was forced out because he clashed with Dean Valentine, vice president for comedy.

Disney recently decided to abandon one-hour television dramas and instead concentrate on half-hour comedies. One source said that Ancier had wanted to fire Valentine. Instead, it was Ancier who left.

“This has been a personality conflict for some time,” one executive said.

Ancier was a fast-rising Fox Inc. executive in April, 1989, when Disney, one of the most successful entertainment companies, hired him to help it attain an elusive goal: a thriving television production operation.

Disney has struggled in prime time, producing short-lived shows such as “Hard Time on Planet Earth,” “The Ellen Burstyn Show,” “The Oldest Rookie,” “Nutt House” and a sitcom based on the Disney film “Down and Out in Beverly Hills.”

For the current season Disney produced 15 pilots, more than any studio for the networks. Four of the programs were picked up by networks and two of them, “The Fanelli Boys” and “Carol & Company,” survive. Both are on NBC.