Jim Samples

Last updated
Jim Samples
Born
James Donald Samples Jr.

1963 (age 60–61)
Atlanta, Georgia, US
Occupation(s)Businessman, media executive
Years active1989–present
SpouseMargaret
Children2

James Donald Samples Jr. [1] (born 1963) is an American businessman and media executive. He is best known as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of TNT Latin America and Cartoon Network Latin America from 2000 to 2001, the General Manager and Executive Vice President of The Cartoon Network, Inc. from 2001 to 2007, the President of HGTV from 2007 to 2011, the President of Scripps Networks International since 2011, [2] and the President of the Management Board at TVN Group from 2016 to 2018.

Contents

Early life

Samples was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Presbyterian College, he received a Master's degree in International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina. [3]

Career

NationsBank

From 1989 to 1993, Samples was a relationship manager, international examination department vice president, and manager at NationsBank. [4]

Turner Broadcasting System

Samples spent nearly fourteen years with Turner Broadcasting System in various leadership capacities spanning affiliate sales, marketing, programming and digital media. He started his career at Turner in international business development in 1993 and then became the President of Turner International Argentina, based in Buenos Aires, the following year. [4] In 2000, Samples became Senior Vice President and General Manager of TNT Latin America and Cartoon Network Latin America, serving as such until 2001. but continued to take care of the Latin American Channel through executives Barry Koch and Cindy Kerr until his resign in 2007 and its credited with launching Toonami in 2002 and Adult Swim in 2005. [4] He also served as the General Manager of CartoonNetwork.com around this time. [4]

On August 22, 2001, Samples was promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager of The Cartoon Network, Inc., replacing founder and original president Betty Cohen. Under Samples's leadership, the network included successful original series such as Samurai Jack , Codename: Kids Next Door , The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy , Star Wars: Clone Wars , Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends , Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi , The Life and Times of Juniper Lee , Camp Lazlo , Ben 10 , and Class of 3000 . [5] [3]

Under Samples's leadership, Cartoon Network also somewhat controversially began airing live-action "cartoon-inspired" movies in 2005, such as The Goonies and Who Framed Roger Rabbit ; this move was made in response to CN's slumping ratings due to competing live-action shows on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. In 2006, the network produced their first live-action original movie, Re-Animated , a combination of live-action and animation. When asked about the project, Samples stated "We think when it's done the 'Cartoon Network' way, kids will enjoy seeing animation and the real world collide." [6] While Cartoon Network intended to produce future shows that blend live action with animation as well as "cartoony" live-action shows, Samples maintained "we're predominately an animated network and that's not changing anytime soon." [7]

Samples resigned from Cartoon Network on February 9, 2007, following a bomb scare in Boston caused by packages left around the city that were part of an outdoor marketing campaign promoting the Adult Swim series Aqua Teen Hunger Force . [8] [9] Samples made the decision "in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch", and with the "hope that my decision allows us to put this chapter behind us and get back to our mission of delivering unrivaled original animated entertainment for consumers of all ages". [10] Following Samples's resignation, Stuart Snyder was named his successor. [11]

HGTV

After his resignation from CN, Samples transferred to Scripps Networks Interactive. He was appointed President of HGTV in 2007 [5] and served as such until 2011. During his tenure, HGTV ranked every year as the #1 network among upscale female viewers in the U.S. At HGTV, Samples broadened the network's programming slate by introducing a series of hits shows including Love It or List It , Property Brothers and Kitchen Cousins while greatly expanding the network's hit franchise House Hunters . He also partnered with the consumer products team to create new off-air brand extensions including HGTV Magazine, the #1 home magazine in the U.S., and an extensive HGTV-branded product line. [3]

Scripps Networks International

Since 2011, Samples has served as President of Scripps Networks International. In this role, he oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of the company's international division which distributes five international brands – Asian Food Channel, Fine Living, Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel – across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. In addition, Samples sits on the Board for and manages the company's joint-venture relationships with both UKTV in the UK and Shaw Media in Canada. He also oversees the division's international program licensing business. [3]

TVN

In mid-2015, Scripps bought TVN Group, one of the leading media companies in Poland. In July 2016, in addition to overseeing SNI's international division, Samples was appointed TVN's new President of the Management Board, and was confirmed the company's CEO in 2017. Under Samples's leadership, the Polish media group has significantly expanded its distribution footprint. HGTV has made its first move into Europe with a successful launch in Poland in January 2017. Food Network and Travel Channel have also enriched TVN's bouquet of channels and the company has further strengthened its digital position by acquiring Gamellon, a multichannel network partnering with YouTube in CEE. In 2018, Samples was replaced as President of the Management Board by Piotr Korycki, with Samples moving to the companies' supervisory board. [12]

Other ventures

Samples also sits on the boards of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Presbyterian College. [3]

Personal life

Samples currently[ when? ] lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and two daughters. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food Network</span> American basic cable channel

Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks and Nexstar Media Group. Despite this ownership structure, Warner Bros. Discovery has operating control of the channel, and manages and operates it as a division of the Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks Group. The channel airs both special and regular episodic programs about food and cooking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery, Inc.</span> American factual media company (1985–2022)

Discovery, Inc. was an American multinational mass media factual television conglomerate based in New York City. Established in 1982, the company operated a group of factual and lifestyle television brands, such as the namesake Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and TLC. In 2018, the company acquired Scripps Networks Interactive, adding networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel to its portfolio. Since the purchase, Discovery described itself as serving members of "passionate" audiences, and also placed a focus on streaming services built around its properties.

The history of Canadian animation involves a considerable element of the realities of a country neighbouring the United States and both competitiveness and co-operation across the border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicktoons</span> Animated series brand used by Nickelodeon

Nicktoons is a collective name used by Nickelodeon for their original animated series. All Nicktoons are produced partly at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and list Nickelodeon's parent company in their copyright bylines.

Jetix was a children's entertainment brand owned by The Walt Disney Company. The brand was for a slate of action/adventure-related programming blocks and television channels. Jetix programming mainly originated from the Saban Entertainment library, airing live-action and animated series with some original programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qubo</span> American childrens entertainment brand

Qubo was an American television network for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Owned by Ion Media, it consisted of a 24-hour free-to-air television network often mentioned as the "Qubo channel", associated website with games and programs available through video on demand, and a weekly programming block on Ion Television, along with Ion Life, later known as Ion Plus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network</span> American cable television channel

Cartoon Network, often abbreviated as CN, is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Cartoonito, Discovery Family, Adult Swim, and Toonami under its purview. The channel is headquartered at 1050 Techwood Drive NW in Atlanta, Georgia.

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) was an American mass media company, which was formed on July 1, 2008, and acquired by and merged into Discovery Communications on March 6, 2018. It was formed in 2008, through the spin-off of the E. W. Scripps Company's cable television networks and online assets. Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of SNI after receiving approval from the United States Department of Justice and European Commission on March 6, 2018. It was the owner of several major factual television cable channels, including Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, and operated or held stakes in localized international versions of these brands. SNI also owned Polish broadcaster TVN and half of the British channel group UKTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network (Latin American TV channel)</span> Television channel

Cartoon Network is a Latin American pay television channel distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery for the Latin American audience, and the Caribbean. It is the Latin American version of the original Cartoon Network television channel in the United States. It is divided into five feeds, all originating from the Turner headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, United States; four are in Spanish, and the other is in Portuguese for Brazil. The feeds have different schedules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HGTV</span> American pay television

HGTV is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The network primarily broadcasts reality programming related to home improvement and real estate.

Betty Susan Cohen is an American businesswoman and media executive. She is best known as the founder and original president of The Cartoon Network, Inc. from 1992 to 2001, the CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services from 2005 to 2007, the founder and president of Betty Cohen Media Consulting since 2008, and the founder and CEO of Hearts & Minds Media since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVN Group</span> Polish media company

TVN S.A. is a Polish media and entertainment group established in 1995 as TVN Sp. z o.o. The CEO of TVN Group is Katarzyna "Kasia" Kieli, president and managing director of TVN Warner Bros. Discovery. Its TV channel, TVN, is their flagship.

Luis Silberwasser is a Colombian-American media executive who served as president of Telemundo Networks from 2014 to 2018. Prior to joining Telemundo, Silberwasser served as executive vice president and chief content officer for Discovery Networks International.

Susan Packard is an American business executive and author who was a cofounder of HGTV, DYI Network and several other Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) network channels.

Cartoon Network is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is part of The Cartoon Network, Inc. unit of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery which primarily focuses on animated programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Discovery</span> American mass media and entertainment conglomerate

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It was formed from WarnerMedia's spin-off by AT&T and merger with Discovery, Inc. on April 8, 2022.

Warner Bros. Discovery International, formerly known as Turner Broadcasting System International and WarnerMedia International, is an international unit of Warner Bros. Discovery led by president Gerhard Zeiler. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key WBD brands outside of the United States. These brands include Adult Swim, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, TBS, TNT, and Warner TV, as well as Polish owned TVN Group channels and has a stake of some networks operated by CTV Speciality Television Inc., a joint venture between Bell Media and ESPN Inc. such as Discovery and Animal Planet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVN Warner Bros. Discovery</span> Polish media company

TVN Warner Bros. Discovery has been subsumed into Warner Bros. Discovery in Poland, alongside other group assets including Eurosport and HBO Max.

References

  1. ↑ "Powołanie członków Rady Nadzorczej na nową kadencję".
  2. ↑ Gaines, Jim (May 4, 2018). "More changes follow merger of Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks Interactive". Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jim Samples, President, International". Scripps Networks Interactive. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Jim Samples". LinkedIn . Retrieved 2013-12-26.(registration required)
  5. 1 2 "HGTV taps Samples as president". The Hollywood Reporter . 13 September 2007.
  6. ↑ Cartoon Network goes live with re-animated thefutoncritic.com March 9, 2006 [ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Cartoon Comes Alive - 11/27/2006 - Multichannel News". www.multichannel.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Two held after ad campaign triggers Boston bomb scare". CNN. February 1, 2007. Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Cartoon Network Boss Quits Over Bomb Scare". CNN. February 9, 2007. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ Weber, Harry R. (February 10, 2007). "Cartoon Network Head Resigns After Scare". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Cartoon Network hires new GM". Variety. May 2, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Piotr Korycki to head Discovery and TVN in Poland". 9 May 2018.
Preceded by The Cartoon Network, Inc. president
2001–2007		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.