Local News

The Last TV Program Syndicator

February 25, 2015 / 4:43 PM CST / CBS Texas

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Last week I lost one of my best friends in the business, Al Shore. Al was the Regional VP/ Southwest region for 20th Century FOX Television, the company that sells TV programming to stations nationally. Al was the last of a generation of syndicators alive who wrote the book on how to sell TV shows to stations.

Al had planned to be a doctor while attending Duke University Medical School but went into the Army during the Korean War and was assigned to run the radio station at Fort Sill OK. After his discharge, he worked in local television and then made the move to syndication. During his extraordinary career, All worked for such companies as ZIV Television, Warner Brothers, and FOX, where he was until his retirement in the late 1990's. Al started at a time when TV syndicators were more of programming consultants to stations than just sellers. Stations trusted their advice. And he was an early pioneer in what is today a thriving business, especially with digital channels and mobile devices watching shows today.

I first met Al in 1983 at KOOL-TV in Phoenix. The station had been owned by actor and businessman Gene Autry and his partner, Tom Chauncey. Autry and Chauncey had been friends for years but their relationship soured in the early 80's. The former owner of the station also owned KOOL-FM (now a CBS Radio owned station) and Sun Country Properties which raised and sold Arabian horses. In 1983, it was not uncommon for one horse to be sold for over one million dollars. Autry and Chauncey sold the station to the company that employed me, Gulf Broadcast Group. The station manager, Homer Lane, was a minority owner and retired when the station was sold. I was on a one year assignment there to learn TV programming under General Manager Jack Sander and Program Director Gary Rockey.

When Al called me, the show he needed sold was a weekly show called "Dance Fever", hosted by Deney Terrio. This show, produced by Merv Griffin, consisted of several dance duos who performed and then were judged and a winner selected. It was running on a competitor station but Al needed to move it and saw an opportunity with us. We cleared the show for Saturdays 6:30pm and it was a hit! As a side note, Terrio sued Griffin for $13 million reportedly for inappropriate conduct but the suit was later dismissed.

Al was always friendly and jovial (he was old enough to be my father) and was the best salesman I ever saw. He always did what was best for his company but always fair in his dealings with people. You loved him calling on you. He was my friend professionally and personally.

The last time I saw him was in 1998 when my wife and I ran into him in Dallas. He was pretty much retired but the same guy we knew and loved. I wish I had stayed a little more in touch with him as he was still doing some syndication at that time. I was also blessed to have known his late wife Carleeta, his son John, and his daughter Carol and Sandi. I was glad I could see the kids last week to pay my final respects to a guy that was a TV syndication legend and one of my best friends. I shall miss him greatly.

Al, thanks for a great 32 year relationship and for everything you did for me. I shall not soon forget.

See you next time.