The new E! Network president is looking for the next Kardashians.
That doesn’t necessarily mean finding a new first family of reality television, but Adam Stotsky—who NBCUniversal’s cable television division promoted this week to head the entertainment- and reality TV-focused network—is definitely looking ahead in search of his network’s next ratings hit.
In an interview published Thursday by the Los Angeles Times, Stotsky answered questions about his new role at E! (He previously served as the network’s general manager) and how he’s planning for the future at a network whose biggest current primetime hit, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, is already in its 11th season. The reality show averaged roughly 2.5 million viewers per episode in its last season, but ratings are down slightly this year. The Comcast-owned (CMCSA) network head stressed the importance of being able “to balance the near term with the long term” when it comes to maintaining a long-running show’s success while scouting for the next big hit.
He added: “You want to make sure that everything that is current is as strong as it can be. And that it’s as sustainable for as long as possible. But the law of averages would suggest that at some point you will need to replace your current hit with future hits.”
Stotsky went on to talk with the Times about cord-cutting and digital TV services. He said that he feels linear television is still the best way to maintain a consistent relationship with viewers and that “bingeing creates a challenge in the creation of a lasting relationship, which is a fundamental of television.”