NBC Brings in Harbert to Head Production

Continuing the push by television networks to supply more of their own programming, NBC has hired former ABC Entertainment chief Ted Harbert as president of its production arm, NBC Studios.

Harbert--who has spent the last 2 1/2 years in a production deal at DreamWorks SKG working on the ABC comedy “It’s Like, You Know . . . “--will oversee not only production of prime-time programs but also those made for late night, daytime and the youth market. NBC currently produces more than 30 hours of programming per week, including “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” the popular drama “Providence” and the network’s Saturday-morning lineup of teen-oriented shows.

Harbert, who will report to NBC West Coast President Scott Sassa, said he expects the division not only to increase its output for NBC but also to sell programs to other networks. The executive also maintained that NBC Studios--which came up with two prime-time hits for NBC last season--won’t receive undue favoritism from the network.

“I’m not a believer in ‘Let’s put it on because we own it,’ ” Harbert said. “I’ve got to come up with shows that are worthy of NBC’s schedule.”

All the networks have moved to provide more of their own lineups, hoping to cash in on the sale of rerun rights as well as control costs. They are eager to prevent the sort of negotiations that resulted in NBC paying Warner Bros. a record $13 million per episode for “ER.”

Walt Disney Co. recently took the most aggressive step yet in this direction, consolidating management of its TV production arm with the studio’s network, ABC. Warner Bros. has also attempted to smooth the flow of programming from Warner Bros. Television to the WB network after discord between the two units.

Harbert, 44, has spent nearly his entire professional life at ABC, heading the entertainment division from 1993 through January 1997, which culminated two decades at the network. He was recently involved in extended discussions regarding a senior position at Sony Corp.’s Columbia TriStar Television before those talks fell through.