Television
November 16, 2009
Michael Puopolo Named Vice President, Research, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
(November 16, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – Michael Puopolo has been named Vice President, Research, at Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD), it was announced today by Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television.
In the newly created position, Puopolo will lead the worldwide research activities for WBITD, which licenses the Studio’s programming around the world, and will also provide research counsel to Warner Bros. International Branded Services, which launches linear and on-demand (both advertiser-supported and subscription-based) programming services – primarily under the WarnerTV banner – around the globe featuring content from Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Based in Burbank, Calif., Puopolo will provide WBITD’s senior management and global sales and marketing teams – as well as the International Branded Services division – with qualitative and quantitative insights into local markets and territories, consumer behavior, television and online viewing habits, programming trends, program performance and scheduling. Puopolo will also advise on research related to new sales and business development strategies, and he will oversee WBITD’s media research staff in Burbank, Latin America and Europe.
In his new role, Puopolo will report to both Jim Brehm, Senior Vice President, Sales–Canada, Latin America and Asia, WBITD, and to Greg Drebin, Senior Vice President–Programming and Marketing, Warner Bros. International Branded Services.
“Michael has done an outstanding job leading our research efforts for Latin America, and his understanding of the Studio’s programming as well as consumer behavior has proven invaluable to our traditional television licensing business,” said Schlesinger. “His depth of international television experience, combined with his knowledge of emerging platforms, makes him perfectly suited to head up research for this new and quickly growing area of our business.”
A 13-year veteran of WBITD, Puopolo was most recently Director, International Research & Latin American Client Services, having served in that post since June 2004. Previously, he had been Director, International Research, since August 1996. His tenure at WBITD also includes a special assignment as Director, Marketing, Publicity & Promotions, EMEA, from February–September 2003.
Before joining WBITD, Puopolo was a Senior Research Analyst at Universal Television and a Senior Marketing Analyst at Nielsen Media Research. He began his career at Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.
Puopolo holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami. # # #