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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Chapter will bestow its Board of Governors’ Award to digital broadcast network entrepreneur and pioneer Jonathan Katz at its annual Emmy Awards ceremony on June 15. The ceremony, which will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NATAS Southeast Chapter’s Emmy Awards, will take place at Atlanta’s Grand Hyatt Hotel Buckhead.
Gray Television’s Monica Pearson will serve as the evening’s host along with Jorge Estevez, anchor of WSB’s Channel 2 Action News at 5 and 11 p.m.
“On behalf of NATAS Southeast, it is my great honor to congratulate Jonathan on being this year’s recipient of the Governors’ Award. His outstanding contributions to our industry and unwavering dedication have set a remarkable standard for excellence and we are thrilled to celebrate his achievements,” said Evelyn Mims, board president, NATAS Southeast.
The Governors’ Award recognizes outstanding and unique accomplishments and achievements by individuals, organizations, or companies in the arts, sciences, or management of television which are either of a cumulative nature or so extraordinary and universal as to be beyond the realm of the awards presented in the categories of achievement. Past recipients include Ted Turner, Andrew Young, CNN, and The Weather Channel. A complete list of past recipients can be found here.
Katz recently founded Atlanta-based Free TV Networks, a new broadcast-driven company with a portfolio of national ad-supported over-the-air and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels that capitalize on the resurgence of OTA viewing and the rapid growth in ad-supported streaming channels. The company partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate and Gray Television in launching two national ad-supported networks on Jan. 1, which are free to consumers focused on African American programming (The365) and Westerns (Outlaw). On July 1, the company will launch a third national broadcast channel featuring popular unscripted series in partnership with A+E Networks.
Katz is best known as the founder of the Katz Networks, a pioneering digital over-the-air networks company whose portfolio included broadcast networks Bounce (African American), Escape (true crime), Grit (westerns), Laff (comedy), Court TV and subscription video-on-demand service, Brown Sugar. The Katz Networks were acquired by E.W. Scripps in 2017 and then combined with Ion Media in 2021. At that point, Katz became the chief operating officer and head of entertainment for the Scripps Networks, responsible for overseeing both the Ion broadcast network and the Katz Networks’ portfolio. During this time, Katz also launched two successful new broadcast networks: TrueReal and Defy TV.
Prior to that, Katz was SVP-GM, worldwide program planning & acquisitions for the Turner Entertainment Group, leading the division responsible for acquiring all licensed and key original content for Turner’s entertainment networks (TBS, TNT, TCM, Court TV/Tru TV) and animation, young adults & kids media businesses (Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang) as well as The WB broadcast network. Katz was concurrently General Manager of WTBS Atlanta, transitioning it to a new Atlanta-centric brand, “Peachtree TV” (WPCH).
Katz originally joined Turner Broadcasting as VP, marketing for CNN Newsource Sales, leading all marketing for the syndicated news service, which also serves as the base for CNN’s domestic newsgathering.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Katz began his career with local TV leadership positions in programming, promotion, production and news at WTOG Tampa; WJZY Charlotte, N.C.; WDBB Birmingham, Ala.; and WCFT Tuscaloosa Ala.
Prior to launching Free TV Networks, Katz was most recently president of publicly traded Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE). In that role, Katz was responsible for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment operating businesses, including Redbox (DVD/TVOD/AVOD/FAST), Crackle (AVOD/FAST), Chicken Soup for the Soul (AVOD/FAST), Screen Media Ventures (distribution) and Halcyon Studios (original production).
The Regional Southeast EMMY® Chapter is one of 19 chapters throughout the United States identifying and celebrating television excellence at the local and regional level of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
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