MUMBAI: US producer and network executive David Janollari, who has shepherded shows like ?Friends? is setting up a new production company in an exclusive deal with Universal Television, it was announced by Universal Television executive VP Bela Bajaria.

Bajaria said, "Our goal is to make deals with the best creative producers in our business and David Janollari exemplifies this. Not only have I had the pleasure of working with him when he was a producer in the trenches, but he also has experience as an executive at three different networks which gives him added insight into the complexities and ever-changing programming needs of our industry at this moment. We?re thrilled to welcome him to the Universal Television family."

Janollari was most recently MTV head of programming and prior to that was WB Network president. As a producer, he?s responsible for more than a dozen shows across the broadcast and cable spectrum.

Janollari said, "The opportunity to work with Bela, Jen Salke, Bob Greenblatt and all of the creative people at Universal Television - some of whom I have known for the better part of two decades - is what I?m really looking forward to. I?m very excited about returning to producing again after nearly 10 years on the network side and hopefully supplying attention-getting new shows to all of the networks."

Greenblatt said, "We had a very satisfying and successful producing partnership and I know first-hand how incredible David is in the creative process. He?s one of the best producers I?ve ever worked with and I?m thrilled to be back in business with him at our studio. When he left MTV it became my goal to talk him back into producing again."