Executive Vice President, Distribution Brad Samuels

Brad Samuels is Executive Vice President of Distribution for Ovation, based at the network’s New York offices and reports directly to Chad E. Gutstein, Chief Operating Officer.

Joining Ovation in January 2012, Samuels is responsible for continuing to drive the network’s distribution efforts across all media platforms.

Samuels came to Ovation from MSG Media, which operates the MSG and Fuse Networks.  As Executive Vice President, Content Distribution from 2008 to 2010, Samuels was responsible for maximizing the channels’ distribution and related revenue across multiple platforms. He also was charged with oversight of the company’s affiliate sales team, handling both the Fuse music network and MSG regional sports networks

Previously, Samuels served as Executive Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Marketing with TV One, the entertainment network with an African American perspective, from 2004 to 2008.  As a member of the network’s founding senior leadership team, Samuels achieved record subscriber growth, reaching 40 million subscribers within two years of the network’s launch.  Working closely with TV One’s senior leadership team and the company’s board of directors, Samuels secured significant distribution commitments with eight of the 10 largest U.S. distributors. He also executed an aggressive digital media strategy that included an innovative VOD offering, iTunes paid downloads and broadband content syndication deals.
From 1993 to 2003, Samuels worked with Comedy Central, holding the post of Executive Vice President of Affiliate Relations for his last five years with the network.  During this time, Samuels led initiatives related to distribution growth, subscriber revenue and all affiliate marketing activities, including the negotiation of long-term affiliate contract renewals with all major cable MSOs and satellite companies and creating a successful strategy for offering original content via PPV and VoD platforms.

Samuels, a member of both NCTA and CTAM, is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Telecommunications.