Elton Rule
Encyclopedia
Elton H. Rule was an American television executive and former president of the American Broadcasting Company
. Assuming the presidency at a time when ABC was a distant third in the Nielsen ratings
, Rule is credited with greatly expanding network revenue, ratings, affiliates and profits. He is also credited with developing the miniseries
, beginning with an adaptation of QB VII
in 1974 and including the landmark Roots
in 1977. Rule served as network president from 1972 to 1983.
Elton Rule died of cancer at his Beverly Hills, California
home in 1990. He was survived by his wife Betty Louise, and their children, Cindy Dunne, Christie Rule and James Rule.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Assuming the presidency at a time when ABC was a distant third in the Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, Rule is credited with greatly expanding network revenue, ratings, affiliates and profits. He is also credited with developing the miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
, beginning with an adaptation of QB VII
QB VII
QB VII by Leon Uris was a best seller published in 1970. This four-part novel highlights the events leading to a life-shattering libel trial in the United Kingdom.-Plot summary:...
in 1974 and including the landmark Roots
Roots (TV miniseries)
Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's fictional novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots received 36 Emmy Award nominations, winning nine. It also won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings with the finale still...
in 1977. Rule served as network president from 1972 to 1983.
Elton Rule died of cancer at his Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
home in 1990. He was survived by his wife Betty Louise, and their children, Cindy Dunne, Christie Rule and James Rule.