Don Ohlmeyer, a pioneering television producer and founder of one of the first dedicated media agencies for a major brand, died Sunday. He was 72.
Ohlmeyer, who began
his media career as a protege of legendary ABC sports producer Roone Arledge, eventually rose in the broadcasting ranks to become West Coast President of NBC, where he was known for coining the slogan
“Must See TV” and his focus on “tentpole” programming events.
In 1982, he formed Ohlmeyer Communications, a dedicated agency representing hundreds of millions
of dollars of Nabisco’s advertising, as well as the consumer marketer’s 20% stake in ESPN.