Ed Wilson is an American media executive. He is formerly President of Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting [1] and has held top-level executive roles with FOX Television Network, NBC Enterprises and CBS Enterprises.[2]
| Ed Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rison, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Media executive |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse | Leslie Zahn Wilson |
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Wilson was born and raised in Rison, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BS/BA in Finance. His career began in 1980 as a Sales Trainee for Viacom.[3] Wilson later worked for KATV, Channel 7 in Little Rock as a sales manager.[4]
In the early 90’s, Ed Wilson was a sales executive at Columbia-Tristar specializing in syndication. He befriended colleague Bob Cook, and together, they helped syndicate Ricki Lake and Seinfeld off-network. In 1994, Wilson and Cook struck a partnership with station group A. H. Belo, opening up their own syndication studio, MaXaM Entertainment.[5]
Despite being a small distribution company, MaXam was geared towards handling off-network sales for the major studios. In MaXam's first season, the studio distributed a talk show called “J & I,” weekend series “PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal,” “Extremists” with volleyball star Gabriel Reece and a Hall of Fame movie package on the Hallmark Channel. At the end of 1995, A. H. Belo executives initiated the sale of MaXam to CBS that would finalize in January 1996.
In 1994, Wilson founded his own syndication company, MaXaM Entertainment, in partnership with A.H. Belo Corp. The company was sold to CBS in January 1996 at which time Wilson was named President and Chief Operating Officer of CBS Enterprises and Entertainment. Domestic and international sales of CBS network programming, as well as production of original programming for syndication and cable were Wilson’s responsibilities.
On February 11, 1996, CBS hired Wilson to create and helm CBS Enterprises and Entertainment as President and Chief Operating Officer. In addition to directing the domestic and international sales of CBS network programming, he was responsible for production of original programming for syndication and cable. In July, 2000, Wilson opted not to renew his contract with CBS and to pursue other opportunities.[6]
After departing CBS Enterprises, Wilson was hired by NBC in September 2000 to create and helm NBC Enterprises, a distribution and syndication branch of NBC.[7] Wilson's four years at NBC included overseeing global distribution (including foreign and domestic syndication), marketing ancillary products such as home video, merchandising, licensing, music and publishing, as well as directing domestic and international co-productions and co-ventures. In light of a pending merger with Universal Television, He left NBC in 2004 [8] to become president of FOX Television Network.
Wilson served as president of the Fox Television Network from 2004 to 2008. In this position he was responsible for network sports and entertainment sales, legal, standards and practices along with Fox’s 200 affiliate stations. Wilson aided in expanding Fox’s content distribution, enabling the company to syndicate 100% of its primetime television [9] to affiliates and explore new methods of digital distribution, such as Apple Company’s iTunes.
After acquiring Tribune Broadcasting in a leveraged buyout in April 2007, Sam Zell hired Wilson as president of Tribune in February 2008 as part of a new management team led by Randy Michaels. Wilson’s responsibilities were to grow the company’s publishing, broadcasting and interactive revenues. In December 2008, Wilson was named chief revenue officer in addition to his responsibilities as President,[10] in which he oversaw 23 television stations, WGN America, and WGN Radio.[11] Wilson resigned from Tribune in April 2010.[12]
Ed Wilson currently works as a freelance consultant. Most recently, Wilson began working with former CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric on the intricacies of creating and launching a syndicated talk show and production company.[13] Other engagements include a senior media advisory role with Guggenheim Partners, a business advisory relationship with audience and advertiser database innovator GreenLink Networks, and integrated sales advisory and content strategy services for Yahoo!.
Wilson is married to Leslie Zahn Wilson, and has two children, Ashley (a graduate of Boston College) and Royce (a graduate of Southern Methodist University). Wilson currently sits on the Board of the USO and the Board of Trustees at Southern Methodist University. He is also a member of the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame.[14]
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