PV Media Group Management Team Bios
Steve Rosenberg, CEO, PV Media Group
During a career spanning 20 years at Universal's television group, Mr. Rosenberg ascended to co-president of Universal Television Distribution and president of Universal Domestic Television, which distributed the studio's first-run, off-network and feature film product to all forms of television and online media worldwide and domestically.
In his domestic role, covering the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Rosenberg led the development and production of all first-run syndication programming, as well as marketing, distribution, advertising sales, business, legal and administrative functions. Additionally, Mr. Rosenberg oversaw an extensive television and film library consisting of more than 5,000 feature films from Universal and in excess of 40,000 hours of series television.
Under his leadership, Mr. Rosenberg turned many off-network and first-run syndication series into broadcast and cable staples, including "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Jerry Springer," "Xena: Warrior Princess," and feature films such as "Apollo 13" and "Meet the Parents." Mr. Rosenberg also pioneered selling first-run shows for dual airings on broadcast and cable.
Mr. Rosenberg joined MCA/Universal in January 1986 as a syndication account executive in the Northeast office. He was promoted to vie president of the Northeast region in 1990 and senior vice president of East Coast sales in 1992. The following year, Mr. Rosenberg was named senior vice president of the entire division and elevated to president Studios USA Domestic Television, which had acquired Universal's television assets, in 1998. Prior to Universal, Mr. Rosenberg served as Northeast sales manager for Tribune Entertainment.
Major Deal Experience:
In 2002, Vivendi Universal, formerly Seagram's, reacquired USA Networks' TV and film assets for $10.3 billion. Mr. Rosenberg handled their complete integration back into Vivendi Universal, identifying synergies, eliminating duplication and establishing infrastructures.
In 1997, Seagram's Universal Studios acquired prolific talk show producer-distributor Multimedia Entertainment from Gannett. Assets included the hugely successful syndicated talk shows "Sally Jessy Raphael" and "Jerry Springer," both of which went on to achieve even greater heights at Universal. Mr. Rosenberg was on the front lines for negotiations, valuation, process and driving decisions, as well as the ultimate integration of the assets into the business units.
Soon thereafter, Mr. Rosenberg helped facilitate the acquisition of Maury Povich Productions for Seagram's Universal Studios. When Home Shopping Network purchased Universal TV assets from Seagram's Universal Studios for $1.6 billion in cash and a 46% stake, the new company became USA Networks Inc. and began trading under the symbol USAI in 1998. Mr. Rosenberg subsequently reported to Barry Diller as president of the entire USA Networks Television Group, and in 2002 led the reintegration of the domestic television assets—then valued at $10.3 billion—back into Universal and through the 2004 NBC purchase and integration of Vivendi Universal Entertainment.
Mr. Rosenberg also served on the advisory board of ION Media Networks, formerly Paxson Communications, where he focused on the areas of strategy and partnership opportunities in the TV content sector, including library owners and production companies. ION Media Networks is a network television broadcasting company which owns and operates the largest broadcast television station group in the U.S., with a reach of more than 91 million homes and 83% of primetime television households.
Richard O'Connor, CFO, PV Media Group
Mr. O'Connor spent more than a decade at Universal Domestic Television (UDT), rising to vice president of finance and operations and CFO of the USA Networks Television Group.
He led the daily operational and financial management of the business unit, including all employment contracts, budgeting, accounting and legal requirements for the development, production, distribution and advertising, sales and marketing divisions.
Additionally, Mr. O'Connor was responsible for strategic investment opportunities in new business development, long-term and strategic business planning in new technology, and supporting Mr. Rosenberg in advisory and due diligence for numerous deals. While at UDT, Mr. O'Connor also created and implemented all management reporting and sales analyses for the advertiser sales department, which monitored more than $100 million of inventory sold in broadcast syndication.
Prior to joining Universal, Mr. O'Connor worked for five years at Warner Bros. Domestic Television as a senior accountant.
Mr. O'Connor played a key role in the formation of PV Media Group while serving as a principal partner in Nakita Venture Partners, a venture services company. Over the past two years, Mr. O'Connor consulted with early stage and startup companies, including Marathon Ventures, Rogar Studios and Club Create. He provided venture service, financial, accounting and operational support and advice. Mr. O'Connor has also performed consulting assignments for NBC Universal to help optimize its budgeting process.
Major Deal Experience:
In 2002, Vivendi Universal, formally Seagram's, bought back USA Networks TV and film assets for $10.3 billion. Mr. O'Connor assisted Mr. Rosenberg in the complete integration of the assets back into Vivendi Universal, identifying synergies, eliminating duplication and establishing infrastructures, and through the 2004 NBC purchase and integration of Vivendi Universal Entertainment.
Mr. O'Connor reported directly to Mr. Rosenberg as CFO after he assumed control of the USA Networks TV Group. Home Shopping Network purchased Universal's domestic TV assets from Seagram's Universal Studios for $1.6 billion in cash and a 46% stake in the new company, formed in 1998. Barry Diller changed the name of company to USA Networks Inc. and began trading under the symbol USAi.
