Bert Robert Briller, 82, a former ABC television executive and chairman of Television Quarterly, died from complications of multiple myeloma on Friday, March 22, in the rehabilitation center of Weiss Memorial Hospital. Mr. Briller of Hyde Park got his first experience in broadcasting during his time with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Assigned to Mitchell Field in Long Island, N.Y., he interviewed wounded soldiers returning home for reels that were shown at the movies. His big break in television came in 1953 when Paramount took over ABC. Mr. Briller was invited by the new president, Oliver Treyz, to join the network in what was essentially a think tank of young men who were given the task of improving the fledgling network, said his wife Sara Welles Briller. At the time Treyz recruited him, Mr. Briller wrote for Variety under the name “Bril.” During his nine-year career at ABC, Mr. Briller rose to become vice president for sales development presentation and secretary of the network’s executive committee. As vice president, he was given the duty of marketing ABC programs to national corporations. After ABC, Mr. Briller worked as an account executive at Richard K. Manoff advertising agency and then MPO Videotronics. He later was invited to join the New York City Television Information Office, which had been created to counter claims by critics who blamed television for being a cause of violence and other societal problems. He worked for the TIO for 20 years and eventually held the position of executive editor. Mr. Briller was also a contributing writer to various publications and taught communications at Hunter College and the American Theatre Wing in New York. In addition to his wife, Mr. Briller is survived by a daughter, Joan, and three grandchildren. Memorial services are pending.
