Ed Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ed Wilson is an American
media executive. He is formerly President of Chicago
-based Tribune Broadcasting
and has held top-level executive roles with FOX Television Network, NBC Enterprises and CBS Enterprises.
, opening up their own syndication studio, MaXaM Entertainment.
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.
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.
in September 2000 to create and helm NBC Enterprises, a distribution and syndication branch of NBC. 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 to become president of FOX Television Network.
.
. 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, in which he oversaw 23 television stations, WGN America, and WGN Radio. Wilson resigned from Tribune in April 2010.
, a business advisory relationship with audience and advertiser database innovator GreenLink Networks, and integrated sales advisory and content strategy services for Yahoo!.
) 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
media executive. He is formerly President of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based Tribune Broadcasting
Tribune Broadcasting
The Tribune Broadcasting Company is a group of radio and television stations located throughout the United States which are owned and operated by the Tribune Company, a media conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois and named for the flagship Chicago Tribune newspaper.- History :Tribune Broadcasting...
and has held top-level executive roles with FOX Television Network, NBC Enterprises and CBS Enterprises.
Early life
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. Wilson later worked for KATV, Channel 7 in Little Rock as a sales manager.Columbia Tristar Television Distribution
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. BeloA. H. Belo
A. H. Belo Corporation is a Dallas-based media company that owns four daily newspapers and five smaller newspapers. The current corporation was formed when Belo Corporation separated its broadcasting and publishing operations into two corporations. A. H. Belo also owns a part interest in...
, opening up their own syndication studio, MaXaM Entertainment.
MaXaM Entertainment
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.
CBS Enterprises
On February 11, 1996, CBS hired Wilson to create and helm CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
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.
NBC Enterprises
After departing CBS Enterprises, Wilson was hired by NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in September 2000 to create and helm NBC Enterprises, a distribution and syndication branch of NBC. 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 to become president of FOX Television Network.
Fox Entertainment
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 to affiliates and explore new methods of digital distribution, such as Apple Company’s iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
Tribune Broadcasting
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 MichaelsRandy Michaels
Randy Michaels is an American broadcasting executive and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters TV Board.Randy Michaels has been involved in large market radio broadcasting since the early 1970s, first in front of the mike as evening personality at adult contemporary WGR in Buffalo...
. 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, in which he oversaw 23 television stations, WGN America, and WGN Radio. Wilson resigned from Tribune in April 2010.
Present
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. Other engagements include a senior media advisory role with Guggenheim PartnersGuggenheim Partners
Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a privately held, diversified financial services firm that engages in investment banking, capital markets services, investment management, and investment advisory. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and New York with over 1,400 professionals located in 20 cities...
, a business advisory relationship with audience and advertiser database innovator GreenLink Networks, and integrated sales advisory and content strategy services for Yahoo!.
Personal
Wilson is married to Leslie Zahn Wilson, and has two children, Ashley (a graduate of Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
) and Royce (a graduate of Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
). 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.
Awards
- 2006: Beta Gamma SigmaBeta Gamma SigmaBeta Gamma Sigma or ΒΓΣ is an honor society for business students and scholars. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, it has over 650,000 members, selected from over 500 chapters in AACSB-accredited business schools...
honorary initiate in the Sam M. Walton College of Business - 2007: Outstanding Alumni, University of Arkansas