WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC Television Group, will deliver opening remarks at the 2016 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The opening session will take place Monday, April 18, following NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith's "State of the Broadcast Industry" address. The opening event is sponsored by Blackmagic Design.
NAB Show is the world's leading convention for professionals who create, manage and distribute entertainment across all media platforms. Disney Media Networks and Disney|ABC Television Group include The Walt Disney Company’s global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, and radio business.
Sherwood oversees ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, and the ABC Television Network. He also oversees Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of more than 100 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment channels or channel feeds available in 163 countries in 34 languages, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands.
Additionally, Sherwood’s responsibilities include oversight of cable network Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family), and the company’s equity interest in A+E Networks, Fusion, and Hulu. Altogether, the Disney/ABC portfolio is responsible for the creation of more than 24,000 hours of original content each year.
“Mr. Sherwood has achieved great success throughout his career as a journalist, producer, writer and media executive,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “He is a respected executive and a creative thinker with keen business sense. We look forward to hearing about his approaches to today’s rapidly evolving media business at this year’s NAB Show.”
Previously, Sherwood was president, ABC News, a position he had held since December 2010. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of ABC News’ broadcasts as well as ABC News Radio, ABCNEWS.com, satellite service NewsOne and ABC News NOW. During his tenure, “Good Morning America” became the #1 morning TV news program. ABC News reaches a combined audience of well over 270 million people a month on television, on radio and online.
Mr. Sherwood began his career in journalism in 1989 when he joined ABC News as an investigative associate producer and then producer for ABC News’ “PrimeTime Live.” In 1997, he joined NBC’s “Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” first as broadcast producer, then senior producer, and ultimately senior broadcast producer. Mr. Sherwood returned to ABC News in April 2004 as executive producer of “Good Morning America.”
Sherwood is the author of two critically acclaimed best-selling novels: The Man Who Ate the 747 (2000) and The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud (2004). In July 2010, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud was adapted as a feature film starring Zac Efron and was released by Universal Pictures under the title “Charlie St. Cloud.” He also authored The Survivors Club (2009), a New York Times’ best-selling exploration of the science and secrets of surviving extraordinary adversity – and how to apply those lessons to everyday challenges.
News media registration is available here.
About NAB Show
NAB Show, held April 16-21, 2016 in Las Vegas, is the world's largest electronic media show covering the creation, management and delivery of content across all platforms. With 103,000 attendees from 166 countries and 1,700+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new screens in new ways. For complete details, visit www.nabshow.com.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests
in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education
and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities,
strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital
age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
