TV Studio Head Is Named President of Sony Television Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment on Tuesday put to rest months of speculation about who would manage its television operation by naming the head of its television studio, Jon Feltheimer, to succeed Mel Harris, who will leave the company.

Feltheimer, 43, is considered a top television salesman. He is credited with nearly doubling the number of new Columbia TriStar Television shows on the prime-time schedule this year, as well as the returning “Mad About You” and “The Nanny.”

As president of Sony Television Entertainment, Feltheimer will direct the Columbia and TriStar studios, distribution and the international division. He will report to Dennis Miller, the highly regarded former president of Turner Pictures who joined Sony Pictures in February as executive vice president but who until now has largely been without a clear portfolio.

In addition to overseeing television, Miller is in charge of merchandising and strategic projects, which are thought to include a push in animation.

Harris, who joined Sony in 1992, has been dragging his feet for months as Sony has attempted to renew his contract, which expires early next year. Sony apparently forced the issue when it became clear in recent weeks that Harris was looking elsewhere. He is one of two contenders to head a joint venture between Disney and several telephone companies.

“We haven’t been able to reach an agreement,” said Alan J. Levine, president and chief operating officer of Sony Pictures. “As a matter of philosophy, I think people need to know where everyone stands.”

Some say Sony has the makings of a strong management team in Feltheimer and Miller, who are close friends, but many in Hollywood say losing Harris is bad news for the company. Harris is widely respected for his breadth of knowledge and as a strategic thinker, and for restructuring the TV group, merging the Columbia and TriStar labels and putting Feltheimer in charge. And “Ricki Lake,” one of the hottest new syndicated shows, was developed under his watch.

“Mel is an incredible piece of manpower,” said Richard Frank, former head of Disney Television, who worked for Harris when he was at the helm of Paramount Television. “I’m a little shocked that they couldn’t find a way to make it work, given what Sony’s going through.”

Sony Pictures is still digging out from its $2.7-billion write-off late last year. Its TV business has been erratic. And several of the record 10 shows Feltheimer has sold to the major networks this fall are vulnerable because of their competitive time slots. In a risky strategic move, NBC shifted the studio’s popular “Mad About You” from a weekday to Sunday night, a time period not popular among the young urban viewers who are its audience.

Feltheimer was somewhat of a surprise choice: Most in Hollywood had been speculating that Miller would get the job if Harris left. And he could face a tougher selling environment in television as competitors secure outlets for their shows by buying stations--as New World Entertainment has--starting networks, like studio leader Warner Bros. Television--and forming alliances--as DreamWorks SKG has with ABC.

Harris did not return phone calls. He may now be the most likely candidate for the Disney telephone job.