Thirty-two scripted primetime series were developed under Roth's leadership which successfully reached the 100-episode milestone such as 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Two and a Half Men', and 'The West Wing'.
Chairman of the Warner Bros. Television Group Peter Roth will be stepping down from his studio responsibilities in early 2021, Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group has announced.
Roth, who joined the company in March 1999 as President, Warner Bros. Television, has been responsible for signing a number of exclusive overall deals with key producers such as Chuck Lorre, Greg Berlanti, JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot Productions, Ava DuVernay, John Wells, among others.
During his more than two decades atop the studio’s TV production business, 32 scripted primetime series developed under his leadership successfully reached the 100-episode milestone including The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Gossip Girl, Shameless, The Mentalist and Pretty Little Liars.
Roth came to Warner Bros. Television after having served as President, Fox Entertainment where he was responsible for the development and programming of the Emmy Award-winning Ally McBeal, That ’70s Show and Family Guy.
Prior to working at the network, he served as President of Production, Twentieth Network Television (currently 20th Century Fox Television Productions), where he oversaw the development and sales of “The X Files,” “Picket Fences,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Practice” and “King of the Hill.”
Before that, Roth was President of Stephen J. Cannell Productions, where, during a six-year tenure, he was involved with the creation and sale of such critically acclaimed series as 21 Jump Street and The Commish.
Roth currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Peabody Awards, the Los Angeles Board of Governors of The Paley Center for Media, and the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for the Television Academy.
Commenting on his departure, Roth said: “Working at Warner Bros. has been the greatest, most meaningful, most rewarding experience of my career. For the past 22 years, I have had the privilege to be associated with some of the most inspiring creative talents, the most impactful television series and the most dedicated and passionate people I have ever known. It has long been my dream to be able to say farewell at the right time in the right way and for the right reason.
“I’m grateful to Ann Sarnoff for giving me that opportunity and to my Warner Bros. colleagues, past and present, for giving me what has been the gift of a lifetime. I look forward to the next chapter of my career and remaining connected to those people who have meant so much to me.”
Sarnoff remarked: “Peter and I have been meeting for some time about this, and while there’s never a great moment to say goodbye, he felt that this was the right time to transition in a new leader for the group. He’s delivered hundreds of shows, thousands of episodes and millions of viewers, with one singular vision – to work with the best people and to make the best television series.”
“In addition to being well respected by his colleagues and competitors, actors, writers, directors and producers, he is the force behind iconic, pop-culture-defining television shows we all know and love. We’re thankful for his contributions to our company and wish him the very best,” she added.
