Hey. I’m your undercover media executive. I’m a senior executive at a global media conglomerate. I help monetize our shows and help TV shows get on air, and I’m in the room when the network decides what shows make the cut. Some might call me a “Hollywood insider.” But, more importantly – I’m your friend now. I’m not the friend who tells you everything that you want to hear. I’m the friend who tells you the truth. Want to know why a TV show got picked up? Want to talk numbers – why do we pays stars so much money? Want to know why certain shows stay on air, and others don’t make the cut? Well, you’re in the right place. I’m going to break down how the TV business operates, and I’ll tell it to you straight. Why listen to me? Well, for starters, I’ve been obsessed with TV since the age of 3. I grew up watching MTV, Friends, and everything else possibly on air. When I was a kid, my dad asked me to read more books and cut down on my TV time. So, I read books about TV – and that just further fueled the fire. I got a complete education in TV and worked my way up in the business. I started working in TV 20+ years ago as a business intern at a major broadcast network. At that internship, I would pull scripts out of a communal bin in the office – and I read as many scripts as I could get my hands on. After interning in TV and in finance, I got an MBA from an Ivy League school with a focus on media. After my MBA, I went to Wall Street and worked as a media banker for too many years. I covered all parts of the media business: TV, newspaper, satellite – everything. Then, after my Wall Street days, I moved to a cable network and worked on growth strategies for the network. I assessed and negotiated dozens of deals with partners to grow our business. Here are some of my creds: Emmy voter, executive-level positions at various networks, frequent guest at major awards shows (Emmys, Grammys, etc.), frequent guest on all sorts of panels about the media industry, Ivy League degree, mentor to various creatives in the field.
Where do I work now, you want to know? It’s top secret. But, trust me – you’ve heard of it. In my free time, you might catch me hanging out in Aspen, the Hamptons, the Maldives, Los Angeles, Miami, Cannes, New York, a Vegas pool party, the Emmys, the Grammys, or maybe a Hollywood afterparty. I love this business, and I want to help people like you understand how it operates. Whether you’re an entertainment professional, or just a fan of good TV – hang tight. I’m gonna show you the ropes in this biz. Follow this blog for all sorts of articles on TV, Hollywood, business, and entertainment strategy. And – let’s grab a drink sometime. Hey, it’s Hollywood....it’s all about who you know.
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