MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) recently announced that Jeff Frost has been named president of Sony Pictures Television Studios, the production side of SPE’s television business. Frost will report to SPE chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.
Concurrently, Chris Parnell and Jason Clodfelter have been named co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television Studios, reporting to Frost. Collectively, they will comprise a new “Office of the President” which will oversee all U.S. production and programming for Sony Pictures Television (SPT).
Parnell and Clodfelter’s oversight will include all creative aspects of the television studio including U.S. Drama and Comedy Development, Reality & Syndication, U.S. Scripted & Current Programming, Talent & Casting, Movies & Miniseries and TriStar Television.
“Jeff, Chris and Jason are the perfect team to run our U.S. television business,” said Vinciquerra. “Over the last several weeks, I have been able to see first-hand the strong leadership qualities possessed by Jeff, Chris and Jason, the high energy and vitality of everyone in their groups and throughout SPT and the outstanding collaboration that exists between them all. I am confident they will not only grow our robust television business, but also strengthen the integration between SPT and SPE’s other lines of business and with the other Sony Group companies.”
“I am thrilled to take on this new role at SPT and honored to work with some of the most talented and creative individuals and teams in the business,” said Frost. “I am particularly excited about working with Chris and Jason. The landscape of our business continues to rapidly evolve, and SPT is in an ideal position to take advantage of industry shifts due to our diversity of programming and ability to air across a broad array of broadcast, cable and digital platforms. We have had great success over the past 10 years and I look forward to working with the team to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead. I want to thank Tony for this opportunity.”
“We are proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last several years and are excited about building on that in this new role,” said Parnell and Clodfelter. “We want to thank Tony for this opportunity and look forward to working with Jeff and the entire SPT team to grow the roster of high-quality programming the industry and audiences have come to expect from SPT.”
SPT’s International Productions will continue to be led by Wayne Garvie, Chief Creative Officer for SPT International Production, who will report to Vinciquerra.
As Executive Vice President, U.S. Business Affairs, Frost has played a lead role in SPT’s overall strategy and negotiations with the studio’s broadcast and production partners and talent, and has been central to the studio’s greatest successes over the last 10 years. Frost joined SPT in 2008 from ABC Studios, where he served as senior vice president, business affairs for the studio's traditional production arm, as well as their digital media group. Frost joined ABC in 1997 as an attorney in the litigation department and, beginning in 1999, held posts in the legal affairs and business affairs departments for the production company, Touchstone Television, through 2003, when he segued into ABC Cable Networks as senior vice president and head of legal affairs. He rejoined Touchstone Television in 2005 as senior vice president, leading the legal department before taking on his role at SPT business affairs.
Parnell and Clodfelter joined SPT in 2003 and 2006, respectively; both most recently serving as Executive Vice President, U.S. Drama Development and Programming for SPT. Together they have guided the development of scripted programming for drama series, working with writers and producers on projects for broadcast, cable, and streaming outlets. Both have been driving forces behind the studio's most successful dramas, including Breaking Bad, The Blacklist, Outlander, Bloodline, Masters of Sex, Franklin & Bash, Powers, Helix, Preacher, Justified, The Night Shift, The Get Down, Mad Dogs, Sneaky Pete, Houdini & Doyle, Game of Silence, Unforgettable, Damages and Drop Dead Diva. Prior to joining Sony in 2006, Clodfelter served as director, then vice president of development for Spelling Television, Inc., where he developed the series Wanted and Saving Grace, and as director of development for John Wells Productions.
