The CW Names Brad Schwartz President, Entertainment

The CW Network today appointed television executive Brad Schwartz president, CW Entertainment, responsible for programming strategy, creative and brand development and day-to-day operations of The CW Network. Schwartz will begin his new duties on Nov. 7 and report to Dennis Miller, president, The CW Network.

Schwartz spearheaded the re-brand of the TV Guide Network to Pop TV. As president of the network, Schwartz oversaw both creative and business operations.

Schwartz was responsible for landing Pop TV’s flagship original series, Schitt’s Creek, which received four Emmy nominations in 2019, making Pop TV only the second basic cable network in history with a Best Comedy Series Emmy nomination. In 2020, Schitt’s Creek won more Emmys than any comedy series in history and between Schitt’s Creek and One Day at a Time, Pop TV won the third-highest total of Emmys in the industry. In 2020, Pop TV was the fastest growing non-news network in all of television. Most recently, he consulted at The CW on long-term strategy and programming.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Brad and I have seen his entrepreneurial approach to reinvigorating brands,” Miller said. “He knows how to develop and acquire hits with limited resources, nurture talent, and broaden the appeal of diverse media assets.”

Schwartz brings 20 years of experience in media leadership and transformation, having overseen the launch or turnaround of seven different media brands. Prior to Pop TV, he was SVP of programming and operations at Fuse, where he oversaw a re-brand, delivered the highest ratings in the network’s history and discovered critically acclaimed talent and programming, including the Emmy-nominated Billy On The Street with Billy Eichner, Prentice Penny’s Image-Award winning The Hustle, GLAAD-winning Best Reality Series Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, and developed the Emmy and Peabody-winning Hip Hop Evolution for Netflix.

Prior to Fuse, Schwartz was general manager of a portfolio of eight music and pop culture networks in Canada, including MTV Canada and MuchMusic. Schwartz also launched and led VEVO in Canada.

Schwartz is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania and began his career working for Lorne Michaels at Saturday Night Live.