Bonnie Hammer
Chairman, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios, NBCUniversal
Bonnie Hammer is Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios. In January 2011, Hammer added executive responsibility for cable networks E! Entertainment and G4 to her existing oversight of USA, Syfy, Chiller, Sleuth, Universal HD and Universal Cable Productions.
An industry leader in network programming and branding, Hammer received responsibility for USA Network in May 2004, and has served as president of Syfy since April 2001. At USA, she is responsible for operations across all platforms for cable television's leader in original series and movies, entertainment events, off-net television shows and blockbuster theatrical films. At Syfy, she oversees all facets of the network, including programming, marketing, business development and the award-winning Syfy.com. In 2008, she took the reins of the newly created studio Universal Cable Productions, which generates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. At the same time, she assumed leadership of Sleuth, Chiller and Universal HD, which are among cable's most successful digital networks.
An industry leader in network programming and branding, Hammer received responsibility for USA Network in May 2004, and has served as president of Syfy since April 2001. At USA, she is responsible for operations across all platforms for cable television's leader in original series and movies, entertainment events, off-net television shows and blockbuster theatrical films. At Syfy, she oversees all facets of the network, including programming, marketing, business development and the award-winning Syfy.com. In 2008, she took the reins of the newly created studio Universal Cable Productions, which generates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. At the same time, she assumed leadership of Sleuth, Chiller and Universal HD, which are among cable's most successful digital networks.
Under Hammer's leadership, USA Network has achieved the #1 position in all of basic cable for a record-setting five years with a stable of top-rated, Emmy and Golden Globe- honored programs such as "Monk," "Psych," "Burn Notice," "In Plain Sight," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "Royal Pains," "White Collar" and "Covert Affairs." She also engineered the return of ratings powerhouse WWE's "Monday Night Raw" to USA in October 2005.
In 2005, Hammer led USA's groundbreaking "Characters Welcome" branding initiative. In 2009, Hammer drew on the legacy of USA's original "Erase the Hate" campaign, which she had spearheaded, to create "Characters Unite," a pro-social program dedicated to combating intolerance and promoting acceptance. "Tom Brokaw's Bridging the Divide," a 2010 USA special, illustrated the mission of Characters Unite by spotlighting champions of diversity and acceptance. She also initiated Character Project, an ongoing artistic initiative to celebrate the extraordinary people, from all walks of life, who make this country unique. For its initial endeavor, USA assembled a team of 11 world-class photographers to capture the character of America during the summer of 2008. The artists' work is showcased in American Character: A Photographic Journey, which was published by Chronicle Books with the support of the not-for-profit photography organization Aperture Foundation.
During Hammer's tenure, Syfy has become a global brand, extending its reach to over 60 territories worldwide. In the U.S., Syfy has become a Top 5 cable network in ratings and an industry leader in original programming. In December 2002, Hammer led Syfy to a stunning success with "Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN," the Emmy-winning, 20-hour miniseries. Syfy's current programming slate includes "Eureka," "Sanctuary," and "Warehouse 13." Successes on the channel's reality front include "Ghost Hunters," "Destination Truth" and "Hollywood Treasures." Syfy has also partnered with Universal Pictures to launch Syfy Films, a new film company that will develop and produce Syfy-branded theatrical motion pictures to be distributed by Universal.
A leader in innovative and critically acclaimed programming, Universal Cable Productions is the studio behind USA's "Royal Pains," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Psych," "In Plain Sight," "Covert Affairs" and the upcoming "Fairly Legal," along with Syfy's "Eureka," "Warehouse 13," "Caprica" and the upcoming "Alphas." The studio also produced long-running series "Monk" and the Peabody Award-winning "Battlestar Galactica," and is currently developing and producing pilots for MTV and Lifetime, among others.
Sleuth is the first entertainment cable channel dedicated entirely to the intensely popular and enduring mystery and crime genres. Universal HD offers the best of NBCUniversal in 100% 1080i HD; programming includes premiere sporting events, unedited and uninterrupted films and award winning series. Chiller is the entertainment network devoted exclusively to the horror/thriller genre, featuring exciting series, spine-tingling reality, and thrilling feature films.
Hammer originally joined the company in 1989, and her previous titles include executive vice president, general manager of Syfy Channel and senior vice president of Syfy Programming & USA Original Productions. At USA, she partnered with Vince McMahon to transform the WWF franchise into a ratings powerhouse and cultural phenomenon. She also created at that time USA's Erase the Hate campaign, which earned a National Emmy Governor's Award.
Prior to joining Universal Television, Hammer was an original programming executive at Lifetime Television Network, where she executive produced several award-winning documentaries for the network's acclaimed Signature Series; she was honored with the Lillian Gish Award, several Cine Golden Eagles and the National Association for Youth's Mentor Award. Before coming to New York, Hammer executive produced "Good Day!" for WCVB in Boston, and produced the series "This Old House," "Infinity Factory" and "Zoom!" for PBS.
The Hollywood Reporter has consistently cited Hammer on its annual list of the most important women in Hollywood; she has also been named to Fortune's list of "50 Most Powerful Women." She received the 2010 Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership from the National Cable Television Association. In 2008, Hammer received the Anti-Defamation League's Entertainment Industry Award; she has since joined ADL's National Entertainment Advisory Council. In 2007, she was honored with NATPE's Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, and was inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame. She has also received a MUSE award for Outstanding Vision & Achievement from New York Women in Film and Television. Hammer serves on the board of the Ad Council, as well as the Celebration of Women's Achievements in Television and Radio steering committee for the Paley Center for Media. She also serves on the strategic planning committee for Boston University's College of Communication, and is a mentor for Women in Film & Television.
As a photographer, Hammer has had her work displayed in several galleries and published in Time, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the Los Angeles Times, and various Houghton-Mifflin and Little Brown books.
Hammer holds a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in media and new technology from Boston University.
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