John A. Schneider
Encyclopedia
John A. Schneider (born December 4, 1926) was suddenly appointed the president of the CBS Television Network on February 28, 1965, when his predecessor, James T. Aubrey, was fired.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois. After serving in the United States Naval Reserve in World War II
, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame
in 1948. Schneider told The New York Times
upon taking the job "I'm 38 now, but I'll be 55 next week" on the suddenness of the promotion, Schneider having no experience at the network level.
He joined CBS in Chicago in 1950 and was working in national advertising sales when the network in 1958 bought WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Schneider was named general manager of the station, serving until October 1964, when he was named general manager of WCBS-TV
in New York City
, the network's flagship owned-and-operated station.
Schneider became the original president of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Company in 1979. A joint venture of Warner Communications
' Warner Cable and American Express
, WASEC was established to provide programming for the rapidly expanding landscape of cable television, and was rewarded with national versions of QUBE
's movie and children's networks, The Movie Channel
and Nickelodeon. By 1981, Schneider oversaw the launch of one of the world's most influential television networks, MTV: Music Television.
Schneider left WASEC in 1984, shortly before MTV Networks
became a public company.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois. After serving in the United States Naval Reserve in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1948. Schneider told The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
upon taking the job "I'm 38 now, but I'll be 55 next week" on the suddenness of the promotion, Schneider having no experience at the network level.
He joined CBS in Chicago in 1950 and was working in national advertising sales when the network in 1958 bought WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Schneider was named general manager of the station, serving until October 1964, when he was named general manager of WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the network's flagship owned-and-operated station.
Schneider became the original president of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company was a joint venture owned and operated by Warner Communications and American Express that developed and worked on interactive television systems in the late 1970s and initiated several successful cable...
Company in 1979. A joint venture of Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
' Warner Cable and American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
, WASEC was established to provide programming for the rapidly expanding landscape of cable television, and was rewarded with national versions of QUBE
QUBE
QUBE was a cable television system that played a pivotal role in the history of American cable television. Launched in Columbus, Ohio in December 1977, QUBE introduced viewers, and the international press, to several concepts that became central to the future development of cable television:...
's movie and children's networks, The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
and Nickelodeon. By 1981, Schneider oversaw the launch of one of the world's most influential television networks, MTV: Music Television.
Schneider left WASEC in 1984, shortly before MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
became a public company.