Universal Exec to Head TV Unit

As part of Universal Studios’ reorganization of its television businesses--after its recent $4.1-billion sale of television assets to Barry Diller--Blair Westlake has been named chairman of Universal Networks and Worldwide Television Distribution Group. Westlake will report to Universal Studios Chairman Frank Biondi, though some of the operations he oversees overlap with the businesses soon to be controlled by Diller, chairman of St. Petersburg, Fla.-based HSN Inc.

Westlake, previously president of Universal’s Pay Television and Television Business Development operations, worked for the studio since April 1996. For 13 years before that he worked in the legal and home video departments. The appointment puts him in charge of a complex array of domestic and international television assets.

He will oversee international programming development, production and distribution; domestic TV distribution of Universal’s theatrical films; and networks, including U.S. cable networks now jointly owned by Universal and USA Networks and international networks in Latin America, Europe and Asia. Armando Nunez Jr., who has headed Universal’s international television operations since January, will report to Westlake.

Westlake said international operations account for over half of Universal’s television revenue and are growing rapidly.