Ovation Appoints Chief Creative Officer

SANTA MONICA: Robert Weiss, a cable TV veteran and digital media entrepreneur, has been hired as Ovation’s chief creative officer, a newly created position.

In his new role, Weiss will be responsible for the strategic direction and creative vision for the company’s content and brand across all media platforms. His duties will include managing programming, development, marketing, talent relations, digital operations and research, among other things. He will work out of Santa Monica, where he will report to Charles Segars, the CEO of Ovation.

Weiss previously served as the chief operating officer of EQAL, a digital media company. Before that, he was the CEO and founder of Parkwood Media Ventures. He has also held senior-level executive positions with cable networks such as VH1, FX and FUSE. In addition, he spent a decade working as the co-CEO of Buccieri & Weiss Entertainment.

"Rob knows how to build entertainment brands made for the 21st Century, and he has that rare combination of both business and creative acumen to grow that brand into a multiplatform powerhouse. I have no doubt that Rob will bring energy and new thinking to Ovation," said Segars. "Ovation’s growth has been unprecedented over the past six years and now is the perfect time to seize upon the success our team has had in ratings, distribution and advertising."

Weiss remarked: "There is only one cable network that focuses on the arts and culture—and Ovation is it. What a huge opportunity it is to grow Ovation’s audience. I’m excited to tap into millions of media consumers who crave innovative and compelling entertainment—both those viewers who already know about Ovation and those new viewers who will soon discover Ovation’s awesome programming to come in 2013."