Skip to main content

Amazon pulls Executive VP Albert Cheng from ABC for its own original content studio

Actor Jeffrey Tambor and Writer/Director Jill Soloway on the set of Transparent
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In the war between network and streaming TV, network has taken a hit. Amazon has lured away Albert Cheng, EVP of digital media at ABC. He had spent a decade with the company and was credited with making the network’s shows available online. Now, however, he’ll be a competitor, filling the role of chief operating officer of Amazon Studios — the unit behind the corporation’s original TV and movie content. He’ll be joined by another recent hire, Bob Berney, the former CEO of Picturehouse, who is known for marketing indie films such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Passion of the Christ.

Over the last few years, Amazon Studios has increasingly created original content. Though they’ve already had success with kids’ shows and their comedy-drama series Transparent, which has garnered critical acclaim, they clearly don’t plan to rest on their laurels. The decisions to hire Cheng and Berney show that Amazon takes being a content creator seriously and won’t be satisfied with their accomplishments to this point. The e-commerce site-slash-streaming service(-slash-everything, really) recently announced that they’d be moving forward with five new series that were part of their “Pilot Season” program. We expect a lot more trial pilots as they ramp up their content creation efforts, and in turn, more original series. On top of that, Amazon Studios announced earlier this year that they’d be aiming to produce a dozen movies each year.

It’s a big deal to see a streaming service pull a national network executive away from his successful and presumably very lucrative career. Not only is it a coup for Amazon, it shows that viewers aren’t the only ones interested in what streaming services are doing. They’re revolutionizing the way we watch TV, and it looks like even network execs want to be a part of it.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
What’s new on Peacock in May 2024
The cast of The American Society of Magical Negroes.

Peacock is still a revolving door for movies, but it's got a great film lineup in May. The satire The American Society of Magical Negroes is arriving on May 3, shortly after fan-favorites like Jurassic Park, Wonder Woman, Life of Pi, The Hurt Locker, Get Out, Mad Max, and more settle in for at least 31 days on Peacock.

Among original series this month, the World War II drama The Tattooist of Auschwitz, arrives on May 2, while the British sitcom We Are Lady Parts gets its season 2 premiere on May 30. In the meantime, the current seasons of NBC's Law & Order shows are coming to an end, while the first five seasons of Perry Mason are arriving on Peacock as well.

Read more
7 great 90-minute movies you should stream right now
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunset (2004).

In an era of epic blockbusters that often span two to three hours or even longer, it's not easy finding movies that pack a punch despite a short runtime. Audiences looking for movies that are 90 minutes or less can look back at decades of filmmaking and find that there are a few feature films that stand out for being shining examples of how less can be more when it comes to storytelling on the big screen.

From whirlwind romances in films like Before Sunset and Breathless to animated classics like The Lion King and Toy Story, these 90-minute movies prove that great viewing experiences can be achieved in just a short amount of time. Spanning numerous genres across different decades, they are a master class in brevity, pacing, and impact, ensuring that there's something quick, yet entertaining out there for every kind of viewer.
Zombieland (2009) – 88 minutes

Read more
The best free movies on YouTube right now (May 2024)
Saoirse Ronan and Beanie Feldstein in Lady Bird (2017)

Streaming services continue to provide thousands of movies for consumers to watch every month. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Max are some of the top streaming services on the market. However, these services have monthly fees. If you subscribe to all four services, then it will cost you a pretty penny. If you're looking for alternative streaming options, try YouTube, which offers free movies with ads.

YouTube does not have the expansive libraries that Netflix or Max boast. But YouTube offers many films in multiple genres, including drama, comedy, action, adventure, thriller, and horror. To help guide your choice, we curated a list of the best free movies to watch on YouTube this month.
Looking for more stuff you can watch for free? Check out our guides to the best free shows on YouTube and the best sites for watching free movies online.

Read more