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RYAN SHARKEY NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMMING AND CONTENT STRATEGY FOR THE CW NETWORK
RYAN SHARKEY NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMMING AND CONTENT STRATEGY FOR THE CW NETWORK
Veteran Programmer Joins The CW After Two Decades Curating Content Across NBCUniversal’s Cable, Broadcast and Streaming Portfolio
October 10, 2023 (Burbank, CA) – Ryan Sharkey has been named Senior Vice President, Programming and Content Strategy, it was announced today by Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment at The CW Network. The seasoned industry executive will spearhead the strategic growth of The CW as well as its AVOD platform and FAST channel extensions. Mr. Sharkey will lead the Scheduling and Acquisitions teams to optimize programming across all platforms including identifying co-productions and innovative strategies to create compelling content offerings. Sharkey will be based in New York.
“As The CW explores new content that will resonate with viewers on both our linear and streaming channels, Ryan is the ideal candidate to lead our programming team,” commented Schwartz. “With Ryan’s vast experience in all areas of network scheduling and acquisitions, we’re confident he will set The CW up for immeasurable success.”
“The CW is going through an exciting transformation, and I’m thrilled to join the team at this opportune time to grow the network and its digital platforms into a profitable destination for premier programming,” said Sharkey. “I look forward to leveraging my long-standing industry partnerships, financial background and creative dealmaking skills to enhance the intense work Brad and his team have put into this transition. Brad is an energizing creative force, and I can’t wait to partner with him.”
Most recently, Mr. Sharkey served as SVP, Content Acquisitions for NBCUniversal where he curated programming across the NBCUniversal cable networks, broadcast TV and streaming portfolio. He joined NBC in 2002 after training on GE’s Corporate Audit Staff. He started his NBCUniversal career as a financial analyst responsible for the programming budgets at CNBC then USA Network and SYFY Channel.
Mr. Sharkey has been instrumental in developing and executing NBCUniversal’s aggressive content acquisitions strategy. Leveraging his well-established relationships, financial acumen, and creative deal making skills, he led groundbreaking negotiations for major IP across Peacock and the NBCU networks. Among his many credits are the Universal film output deal, the Harry Potter franchise, and “Modern Family” along with executing the first ever acquisitions deals for Peacock in preparation for its launch in 2020.
He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Sharkey is a native of Dayton, OH but now resides on Long Island with his wife, Colleen, their sons Austin, Trevor and Connor and daughter, Kate.
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ABOUT THE CW
The CW Network, LLC is one of America’s major broadcast networks and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 15 hours of primetime entertainment programming per week in addition to over 300 hours of sports per year as the broadcast home to LIV Golf, ACC football and basketball games, “Inside the NFL” and the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2025. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 96 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group with 40 CW and CW Plus affiliates, covering 38% of television households. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.
Media Contacts:
Beth Feldman/917-797-8054
Rob Moynihan, 760/519-5543
