NBCU Names SVP TV Networks Distribution

NBCUniversal today named Matt Schnaars, senior vice president, TV Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal. Reporting to Mac Budill, NBCU president of TV networks distribution, Schnaars will oversee the distribution of NBCUniversal’s broadcast and cable content — including linear networks, regional sports networks, video on demand, and TV Everywhere — to cable, satellite and telco distributors including DirecTV, Mediacom, the NCTC, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and all of NBCU’s smaller affiliate partners.

NBCUniversal’s content portfolio consists of cable networks including USA, Bravo Media, cloo, Chiller, CNBC, E!, Esquire Network, G4, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Sports Network, Oxygen Media, Sprout, Syfy, The Golf Channel and the network-owned NBC and Telemundo stations, Olympic content on cable and broadband, and on-demand and set-top box content.

“We are pleased to welcome Matt to the team,” said Budill. “Matt possesses a wide range of experiences and an industry reputation as a strong leader, change agent and disciplined deal maker with robust MVPD relationships. He will be instrumental in helping the team demonstrate the strength of NBCUniversal’s cable portfolio to our distribution partners.”

Schnaars joins NBCUniversal from the Walt Disney Co. where he served as VP, national accounts in the Media Networks division. As one of the senior leaders in the Disney and ESPN Affiliate Sales and Marketing department, he was responsible for distribution and licensing of TWDC’s broadcast, cable, broadband and wireless network portfolio. His New York based team managed a range of major distribution partner relationships including Time Warner Cable, Verizon, Cox Communications and Google.

While at Disney and ESPN, Schnaars served in various distribution roles in the Affiliate Sales and Marketing group. Prior to joining the company, Schnaars worked in business development and sales for the Phoenix Media Group and CTV. He is active in the entertainment/media industry and has served in advisory capacities for CTAM New York, WICT and Talk NYC.

Schnaars graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the College of the Holy Cross, where he is active in the college’s business program.