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EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that OWN SVP programming and development Rod Aissa is leaving Oprah Winfrey’s cable network to join rival Oxygen as head of programming. Aissa is expected to succeed Amy Introcaso-Davis, who last month departed her post as SVP Original Programming and Development at Oxygen Media to become EVP Programming at Game Show Network. This is the latest departure of a high-level programming executive from the fledgling OWN, co-venture between Discovery Communications and Winfrey’s Harpo, and the first since Winfrey took over the channel as CEO in July. (At a Discovery level, COO Peter Liguori, who used to oversee OWN, recently left the company.) Ironically, Winfrey, who co-owns OWN, co-owned Oxygen before it became part of NBCUniversal. Aissa, who joined OWN in March 2010, has served as SVP, programming and development, primetime and, along with Michele Dix, has overseen all programming and development for the network. He was one of the programming executives who joined OWN after having worked with the network’s former CEO Christina Norman at MTV. Norman departed OWN in May. Before OWN, Aissa served as EVP, TV at Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst production company and as EVP, series and talent development, MTV/MTV Films where he won an Emmy for his work on The Osbournes.
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Nice Rod! Very smart, very cool guy.
Uncreative. Untalented. Ineffective. Nasty.
Exactly which makes him perfect for Oxygen
Nasty man. Lets see how long this job is for.
Great move for Oxygen. Finally someone over there who knows what they’re doing!
Congratulations Rod ! What a smart career you’ve had… such staying power ! Very well deserved !
This makes sense because the crappy reality shows Ive seen on OWN look like they belong on Oxygen
Rod is great guy. He deserves the best. He did great things for MTV. Oxygen is lucky. We are ignoring that people are bailing out of OWN.
Congrats to Rod and to Oxygen. Rod is a great fit with solid producer relationships, passion for projects and the willingness to buck the system to get things done.
He will have his hands full politically dealing with Cori Abraham who has guarded her fiefdom fiercely (while delivering so many bombs for the network her tenure is derided around town as “schlock and awe”).
As for Oxygen…you’ve never seen so many nice people committee projects to death. Bringing in Suzanne Daniels (who has essentially no reality experience and was a disaster on the non-scripted side at Lifetime) was a mistake. The loss of Rod compounds it. Hopefully they’ll luck into a hit and have the good sense to develop around it.
Last paragraph should read: “As for OWN…you’ve never seen”
Looks like bitter party of one couldn’t sell a show. Stop being such a hater. Oh yeah, loved the Glee Project by the way.
He is a nice guy but what’s his track record aside from jumping from job to job?
Osbornes. Created the genre.
Bullshit. He rode other people’s coattails. If he weren’t ever at MTV, Osbournes still would have happened.
If he had “created the genre” – he would have been running the place.
Ive known Rod since the MTv days. He’s straightforward and passionate about what he works in. Great move for both! Sorry for OWN
Huge win for Oxygen. Another bad loss for OWN.
Huge win for Oxygen. Another bad loss for OWN.
Rod don’t hit enter twice…LOL!
This makes no sense. First off, great executives come into a place and make it better. Not jump ship to the competition a year later having done nothing.
A. He was ineffective
B. He’s ineffective and doesn’t have leadership qualities to steer a ship
So instead of praising Rod why aren’t we asking, why? So he gets to OWN. Basically at the bottom. Has a chance to only improve the place and leaves before anything so that he can go to a winning team? Is that a great executive?
Anyone can manage a winning team. At least for a couple of years before he gets fired and gets an even better job.
Let’s be real, folks. It may be Thanksgiving but was shouldn’t be thanking Rod. We should be thanking OWN for finding someone who can be more effective.
Thank you.
Rod’s a nice guy. But has he ever been responsible for a hit? Where were it not for him, that show would never have made, or be made successful?
Can’t think of one. Osbournes he was involved with but it’s not like the show depended on him. But he’s sure fun to party with.
This just goes to show that luck plays a big part in a persons career…talent is no longer necessary in the entertainment industry. I worked with Rod and he definitely has the luck part…
What does this say about OWN? Anyone with experience leaves and seems to go to more successful niche cable nets (having come from more successful cable nets too). Nikki – any inside scoop on how things are really going over there?
Forced out.
Why do we take such joy in ripping people to shreds? Truthfully? Does it make us better? I don’t know Rod but only have heard positive things from folks who have worked with him. I do know he worked on bringing in Punk’d, Newlyweds to MTV. And as far as OWN- come on now. They have had some good shows that just needed folks to know they on. Not all but seriously a bunch.
Oxygen is lame.
Maybe the nastiest most untalented executives we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Never did a thing at OWN (was completely lost and flailing the entire year he actually worked and took a lot of credit for stuff at Katalyst and MTV that he had nothing to do with.
Total ineffective joke of an executive. Bad move Oxygen.
i get dizzy hearing of where this guy works. he won’t last long at own either. good luck pal…
You are all just mad because he passed on your shitty ideas. Rod has had it tough at OWN because he wasn’t allowed to do what he was hired to do. He’s gonna be all right. You, however, will still be bitter.
I know the players well at all three places people are commenting on in this thread (MTV, OWN and Oxygen) and I can tell you this:
1. Rod was responsible (almost single-handedly) for Osbournes, Punk’d and Newlyweds coming to MTV.
2. OWN is a disaster and the Harpo people brought in to “fix” the network are not true development or network people and are forcing the people with talent and industry knowledge (like Rod) to choose between leaving or allowing themselves to be neutered.
3. Oxygen needs a solid pro to shepherd shows through the grind of the creative and production process after they are already purchased and initially developed.
Putting the above together, this is a good hire.
Can’t agree more with the trash talking about Rod. This guy is totally incompetent and is living proof that you can fail your way up the ladder in Hollywood. He’s the ultimate Yes-Man Stooge. Worked with him at OWN and he was all attitude and ego…zero talent. Never had an original idea through the 3 months working with him on a show. He’d try to convince everyone that “Oprah wants it this way” when in fact she had no idea about anything he was talking about. Since he’s such a spineless worm he couldn’t muster up enough courage to push his desires/needs through. Good luck Oxygen…I hope you didn’t give him any sizeable guarantee or lengthy contract because you’ll want to get out of it as soon as you see what this sleaze is capable of.
Single-handedly responsible for Osbournes, Punk’d and Newlyweds coming to MTV?? Um, no…sorry. That is COMPLETELY false. I was an exec there at that time and Rod worked for some talented people…like always, he rides the coat-tails of others, and his bouncing around from network to network proves that he has little talent for generating hits.
This is HUGE loss for OWN! I would work for Rod again in a second, he is passionate, talented and will be missed!
Cause you never did anything except go out for drinks on the company.
I have had the pleasure of working with Rod on many projects and I don’t care what anyone says, this guys is AWESOME! He is smart, creative and passionate with an amazing heart. He pushes his team to be the best that they can be and he has been one of the best leaders I have seen in a VERY long time. It is unfortunate that so many people in this town don’t know how to be happy for others due to their own insecure, envy riddled, jealous hearts. Rod, be encouraged. Everyone who knows you and have had the pleasure of working for you and with you know all of the many contributions you have made to the THREE companies that you have worked for and the contributions that you have made to television in general. CONGRATULATIONS! THIS OPPORTUNITY IS WELL DESERVED!
Or maybe we have an ENTIRELY different take than the one you have. As I said, I was an exec at MTV…Rod never passed me over for a job, he never turned down one of my ideas. I am not jaded, pissed or sitting in the corner pouting. I am a realist…and the reality is that MANY times in this industry people get lucky. Rod is lucky. Sure, Rod has some talent, but he has never singularly driven a hit.
I am happy that your experiences with Rod have been positive. Perhaps there will be a seat for you at the next table he sits at the head of. But don’t discount the experiences of others who have worked with this marginally talented individual.