• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, June 3, 2016

TV studio production chiefs have always had a difficult job -- but their programs will seemingly be needed more than ever as advertisers look to more “premium” content in a digital world.The nuts and bolts of their efforts are focused on what they can do for the bigger TV networks -- broadcast and cable. But increasingly the future is moving toward Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and other growing OTT services.

And in this light, Steve Mosko, chairman of Sony Pictures Television, and Bela Bajaria, president of Universal Television, recently departed their respective companies.

For Mosko, it was an unusual run. Sony is one of the big studios with no U.S.-based major TV network connection. And that makes it harder to do deals.  Universal Pictures, Disney-ABC, 21st Century Fox, and CBS all have strong network-TV production in-house connections.

Sony’s successful shows under Mosko's reign of more than two decades include AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” NBC’s “The Blacklist,” AMC’s "Better Call Saul,” Netflix’s “Bloodline,” and syndicated shows “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.”

For Bajaria, Universal TV sold seven scripted series for the 2016-17 broadcast season — down from 12 last season -- and just one to NBC network this year: “The Good Place.” Still, NBCU has benefited over the last several years overall. And the NBC Television Network has been on top of the ratings heap for the last two of three years when it comes to key 18-49 viewers.

Media fractionalization will only continue. TV advertisers will increasingly support big TV shows -- with strong pricing. Content will remain king -- and TV studios will continue to look for senior executive talent that can keep their kingdoms together.