NBC dialed up its alternative-programming executive ranks this summer with the addition of ABC's Brandon Riegg. His hire comes with dialed-up expectations.
Paul Telegdy (left), head of the network's alternative programming department, tells TheWrap they're planning to "take some big swings" in the coming year — and that Riegg's hiring means coming up with "the next big idea" to complement "America's Got Talent" in the summer and take a serious run at "American Idol" in midseason.
Easier said than done. But Telegdy believes the hiring of Riegg, previously executive director of alternative series and specials at ABC, will give the department a fresh perspective as the overseer of all NBC alternative/reality shows from pitch to launch.
Riegg joined NBC just a few weeks after Meredith Ahr was promoted to SVP, alternative programming and development, NBC and Universal Media Studios. Reigg reports to Ahr, who was previously VP in the department since 2007, and who developed and managed the network's two top reality shows, "America's Got Talent" and "Celebrity Apprentice," and is currently overseeing the new civilian version of "The Apprentice," which premieres in September.
"With alternative programming, it's important to have executives like Brandon, who have heard a lot of pitches, someone who has the ingenuity to know what's been out there and what is really new and innovative," Telegdy said. "And Brandon will give us a solid creative analysis of our current shows. To pick holes in them and to help make them better."
NBC had precious little new alternative/reality programming to showcase at this year's Television Critics Association press tour presentation. It announced the school-makeover show "School Pride" at upfronts this spring, which it showed to TV critics Friday evening at the Beverly Hilton. But Riegg, whose hiring TheWrap first reported, has been in the job for less than three weeks; it won't be fair to judge his impact until next year's upfronts.
While at ABC, Riegg (right) not only spent seven cycles overseeing that network's hit reality show, "Dancing 
with the Stars," but also helped develop summer hit game show "Wipeout," which with a 3.0 18-49 rating, is just behind NBC's "Talent" with a 3.4 as the top rated summer reality shows.
Telegdy said while the network has been producing more new scripted programming, alternative shows are still "important to the mixed ecology at NBC." And he said the hiring of Reigg to a newly created position is evidence that the network's management is committed to continuing to search for quality alternative shows.
Telegdy said NBC currently has about 235 hours of alternative programming on the air during the course of each calendar year, but there is room to do more if the ideas are right.
"Only a few new shows each year become hits, so there are opportunities out there," he said. "Alternative shows can sometimes break through the clutter more quickly, and usually you know right away if it is going to work or not."
Fox still has not yet confirmed who will replace the controversial Simon Cowell as a judge on "Idol," but even with Cowell there, the show lost about 10 percent of its 18-49 audience this past season compared to the season before. Telegdy believes those viewers who are leaving "Idol" have to go somewhere and that alternatives need to be offered.
"We need to find a way to reach them," he said.
Telegdy said a new hit can come from anywhere, but looking at NBC's history with alternative/reality type pogramming, they probably will be shows or formats that the network develops internally rather than imports.
"NBC has a tradition of creating alternative programming, not buying foreign formats," Telegdy said. "And I haven't seen a killer format from abroad in some time."
What type of show will it take to draw the "Idol" audience away?
"It has to be a big idea that appeals to an audience that "Idol" no longer appeals to," Teledgy said. "I won't say what it can be for sure, but I will say the people love singing and dancing."
