Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman at NBC, has announced he is to leave the television network it was announced Monday. The Emmy winning executive producer has said he will form a new company with Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCoro to produce and distribute programs across multi media platforms including television, the Internet and mobile devices. Once calling himself a “rock-star television executive”, Silverman turned around NBC's struggling prime-time schudule with reality shows and programs like “The Celebrity Apprentice” and “Knight Rider.” He has had a long time career in television including stints at the Disney Channel, the BBC, Lifetime Television, USA Network and Court TV. NBC has said it will promote Jeff Gaspin, a longtime executive who oversees NBC’s lineup of cable channels, such as USA, Bravo, CNBC and MSNBC, to chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment. Silverman's departure was not entirely unexpected however. Two months ago Silverman insisted that he was “a happy worker at NBC” but the network had failed to renew his contract. The announcement of his leaving came first from close friend and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest through his Twitter feed; twelve minutes before NBC sent out the press release. Sources: Xinhua
