GE: Jeff Gaspin, President, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group, Biography

Jeff Gaspin is president and chief operating officer of Universal Television Group. The newly created division consists of NBC Universal's entertainment cable networks Bravo, Chiller, SCI FI Channel, Sleuth, Universal HD and USA Network, the Telemundo network and its 16 owned-and-operated stations, the television groups distribution including wireless, digital and cable investments and the company's domestic first-run and off-net syndication efforts. A member of the boards of the A&E Networks and the Sundance Channel, Gaspin reports to Jeff Zucker, President and CEO of NBC Universal. He has held this position since July 2007.

In February 2007, Gaspin was named president of NBC Universal Cable and Digital Content. Under Gaspin, the NBC Universal entertainment cable division posted its strongest performance ever and traffic to all of the television group's entertainment websites more than doubled.

Prior to that role, Gaspin was president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Network Strategy since 2004, and added digital content to his responsibilities in November 2005. He returned to NBC in March 2001 as executive vice president of Alternative Series, Longform, Specials and Program Strategy, where he led the network's unscripted programming division, specials, movies and mini-series. In this role, he developed the hit NBC programs “Deal or No Deal,” “The Apprentice,” “Fear Factor” and “Biggest Loser.”

In December 2002, Gaspin was named president of Bravo where he guided day-to-day operations, programming and marketing when the network was acquired by NBC. Among his accomplishments are “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” which was Bravo's highest-rated show in its 23-year history, and “Project Runway,” which continues to break ratings records for Bravo. Under Gaspin's direction in 2003, Bravo increased its subscriber base from 68 million to 76 million and more than doubled revenue and profits.

Prior to rejoining NBC, Gaspin served as executive vice president of Programming and Production at VH1, where he created the acclaimed program “Behind the Music.” Under Gaspin, who joined the channel in 1996, VH1's ratings more than doubled and its profits increased fivefold. He was responsible for overall programming strategies, as well as program development, production, acquisition, scheduling, on-air talent, news and studio operations. Also developed under his watch were “Divas Live” and the hit series “Pop-up Video,” “Rock and Roll Jeopardy,” “Storytellers” and “Before They Were Rock Stars.”

During his first five years at NBC, as vice president of Programming and Development, Gaspin helped develop and launch “Dateline NBC.” Prior to that, he was responsible for the expansion of the “Today” franchise to seven days. Gaspin also previously served as director of Financial Planning for NBC News, overseeing production finance for “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as for NBC's TV stations division.

Gaspin received the GE Leadership Award in the Imagination category for his work on Bravo and NBC in 2003.

In addition, he was included in Entertainment Weekly's 2003 Power issue as a rising executive. Gaspin holds a Master of Business Administration degree in strategic planning from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration and an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He and his wife have three children.