Broadcast Executive. He was a former president of the Columbia Broadcast System (CBS) Television Network, and co-founder of the Cable News Network (CNN) along with Ted Turner. He joined CBS as a mailroom assistant following graduation from Seton Hall University in 1957, before rising through the ranks to head the CBS news and sports divisions. In 1976 at the age of 39, he was appointed president of the CBS television network, the youngest person ever to head a major television network. As a senior broadcast executive, he oversaw coverage of US manned space flights, several national political conventions, President Richard M. Nixon's historic visit to China, and the expansion of the "NFL Today" show. From 1972 to 1974 he served as vice president and general manager of Chicago's CBS affiliate WBBM-TV. In 1978 he resigned from CBS to form his own production company. Two years later he joined the Turner Broadcasting Service (TBS), where he helped manage Atlanta's super-station WTBS, and served as a principal organizer of the Moscow and Seattle Goodwill Games. From 1989 to 1992 he served as president and corporate executive officer of Comsat Video Enterprises, providing satellite video services to various hotel industry chains, and also served as managing general partner of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets. He was the recipient of seven Emmy awards, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Award, four cable excellence awards, and the National Cable Television Associations President's Award. He died at his Connecticut home following a prolonged illness at the age of 73.
Broadcast Executive. He was a former president of the Columbia Broadcast System (CBS) Television Network, and co-founder of the Cable News Network (CNN) along with Ted Turner. He joined CBS as a mailroom assistant following graduation from Seton Hall University in 1957, before rising through the ranks to head the CBS news and sports divisions. In 1976 at the age of 39, he was appointed president of the CBS television network, the youngest person ever to head a major television network. As a senior broadcast executive, he oversaw coverage of US manned space flights, several national political conventions, President Richard M. Nixon's historic visit to China, and the expansion of the "NFL Today" show. From 1972 to 1974 he served as vice president and general manager of Chicago's CBS affiliate WBBM-TV. In 1978 he resigned from CBS to form his own production company. Two years later he joined the Turner Broadcasting Service (TBS), where he helped manage Atlanta's super-station WTBS, and served as a principal organizer of the Moscow and Seattle Goodwill Games. From 1989 to 1992 he served as president and corporate executive officer of Comsat Video Enterprises, providing satellite video services to various hotel industry chains, and also served as managing general partner of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets. He was the recipient of seven Emmy awards, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Award, four cable excellence awards, and the National Cable Television Associations President's Award. He died at his Connecticut home following a prolonged illness at the age of 73.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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