TV Executive Richard S. Reisberg Dies at 85
Richard S. Reisberg, the television executive who led Viacom Productions, United Artists Television, MGM/UA Television Productions and Lionsgate Television, died on September 23. He was 85.
His family confirmed his death to Deadline, which reported the news on September 24. No cause of death was provided.
Reisberg began his career inside the business machinery of American broadcasting. He worked in business affairs, the department that handles contracts, rights and programme budgets, at ABC, CBS and NBC, the three long-standing national broadcast networks in the United States. That start gave him a grounding in how shows are paid for, owned and sold before he moved into management.
He joined Viacom International and rose to senior vice-president. In 1972, he became president of Viacom Productions, the company's programme-making arm. A production company develops series, hires the crews and writers who make them, and then sells the finished shows to broadcasters.
Reisberg then held a succession of top studio posts. He served as president of United Artists Television. He later served as president of MGM/UA Television Productions. He also served as president and chief operating officer of Reeves Entertainment, combining the senior leadership role with responsibility for day-to-day operations. His final industry position was president of Lionsgate Television, according to Deadline.
For viewers, those jobs sit one step back from the screen. Studio presidents do not appear on camera, but they approve projects, agree budgets and close the distribution deals that decide what reaches a schedule and what does not.
After television, Reisberg built a second career in dispute resolution. He worked as a mediator at JAMS, an organisation that provides independent mediators and arbitrators to help parties settle legal disputes without going to trial. He also taught mediation at Pepperdine School of Law, training law students in negotiation and settlement practice.
He is survived by his wife Judy, to whom he was married for almost 56 years, and by his daughters Jennifer Benson and Stephanie Silvera. His son-in-law David Benson predeceased him. The family said donations in his memory may be made to Alzheimer's Los Angeles. Reisberg died at his home in Woodland Hills.
