WENDELL FOSTER NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, MULTIPLATFORM PROGRAM PLANNING AND SCHEDULING, ABC ENTERTAINMENT
New Position Supports Disney-ABC Television Group's Dedication to Reach Viewers Anytime, Anywhere by Navigating Strategies to Improve Programming Reach Through Multiple Platforms
Wendell Foster has been named to the new position of vice president, Multiplatform Program Planning and Scheduling, ABC Entertainment, it was announced today by Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment.
"Wendell's new position will allow us to address the unique challenges of the multiplatform world and to seek out new opportunities for growth and development in this rapidly evolving area," said Mr. McPherson.
Mr. Foster will serve as the primary liaison between scheduling and numerous departments, including Digital Media, Current Programming, Affiliate Relations, Sales, News, ESPN and Research, for all multiplatform and non-primetime scheduling for all ABC Primetime series. As part of Disney-ABC Television Group's dedication to reach viewers anytime, anywhere, he will also be responsible for working with these departments to develop future programming and windowing strategies for the network's primetime programming. Mr. Foster will report to Jeffrey Bader, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment.
Mr. Bader said: "With Wendell's background in both network and cable research and scheduling, he's the perfect candidate to help navigate and formulate new strategies to improve the reach of our programming using multiple platforms."
Most recently Mr. Foster served as vice president, Research, ABC Inc., where he oversaw all ratings research for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and provided ratings analyses for West Coast ABC executives in all areas. He first began his career with The Walt Disney Company in 1987 as manager, Research, Buena Vista Television. He was then promoted to director, Research, Walt Disney Television, and first joined ABC in 1995 as executive director, Program Planning and Scheduling. Mr. Foster then served as vice president, Program Planning and Scheduling, Disney Channel, in 2000, responsible for all scheduling of series episodes, movies and specials for Disney Channel's preschool, tween and adult overnight blocks until 2001.
H e returned to ABC in 2003 from Fox Sports Net, where he'd been vice president, Scheduling and Program Operations, and was responsible for all scheduling of national series and sports event programming on FSN.
Mr. Foster graduated from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Media, and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Communications Management in 1987 from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He currently resides in South Pasadena, CA, with his wife, Ann, and two children, Claire and Kevin.
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