Monty Sarhan

Monty Sarhan is the CEO of SkyShowtime, a streaming service that is a joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global.[1] [2] Sarhan was named CEO in January 2022.[3]

He previously worked at Comcast[4] as well as Epix, where he served in a number of roles including as the Executive Vice President and General Manager.[5] He was responsible for securing additional distribution for Epix and launching the Epix Now subscription video on demand service.[6] He previously oversaw the network's programming, acquisitions, and scheduling teams and was responsible for the network's short- and long-term programming strategy.[7] Part of the initial team that launched Epix in 2009, Sarhan was previously the Senior Vice President in charge of all business affairs for the network.[7] In that capacity, he worked on distribution, digital strategy, business development, programming and film acquisitions, and production deals for the network.[8] He also negotiated key agreements that allowed Epix to become the first premium network to offer subscribers access on Android devices, Roku, Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation.[9]

Sarhan left Epix briefly to serve as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of WWE,[10][8] a publicly traded entertainment company, before returning to lead Epix's programming acquisitions.[7]

Prior to joining Epix, Sarhan worked at Viacom Media Networks, a division of Viacom, where he handled a variety of transactions, including handling console and online gaming for the MTV Games group and Viacom's then-subsidiary Harmonix Music Systems.[11][12][8] He was part of the team that launched the successful Rock Band video game franchise.[13][8]

Sarhan is the former sole founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief [14] of Cracked Entertainment, the parent company of Cracked Magazine[15] and Cracked.com. In late 2005, Sarhan acquired the assets of Cracked Entertainment and reinvented the brand, taking it from a children's comics magazine [16] and relaunching it in 2006 as a comedy, satire and parody brand for 18- to 34-year-old men. Cracked.com[17] was launched in 2006 implementing Sarhan's new editorial formula [12] and has since grown to become one of the country's leading comedy sites. It is ranked in the top 400 of all U.S. sites.[18]

Prior to acquiring Cracked, Sarhan practiced corporate law in both Boston and New York City, including at the law firm White & Case.[8] He is a graduate of Tufts University, Boston University and Duke University Law School.[8] Sarhan remains active in fundraising and other activities for his alma mater.[11]

  1. ^ "Comcast, ViacomCBS to Launch SkyShowtime Streaming Service in Europe". Hollywood Reporter. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  2. ^ "How SkyShowtime's CEO Aims to Shake Up the European Streaming Landscape". Hollywood Reporter. 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. ^ "Comcast, ViacomCBS Name Monty Sarhan CEO of SkyShowtime Streaming Venture in Europe". Hollywood Reporter. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  4. ^ "EPIX Exec Moves into Comcast Gatekeeper Role". Cable Fax. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  5. ^ "Mark Greenberg To Exit As Epix President & CEO". Deadline. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  6. ^ "Comcast X1 Subscribers Can Get Epix In Early 2018 Under New Distribution Deal". Deadline. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  7. ^ a b c "EPIX Names Monty Sarhan as Executive Vice President of Programming, Acquisitions, Strategy and Enterprises". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "WWE Names Monty Sarhan General Counsel". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  9. ^ "Sarhan, Monty Brief Biography". Reuters. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  10. ^ "WWE Hires New GC". Connecticut Law Tribune. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  11. ^ a b "Distinguished Alumni | Duke University About". About.duke.edu. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  12. ^ a b "Monty Sarhan". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  13. ^ "WWE hires man responsible for MTV Games' and Rock Band's success". The Palace of Wisdom. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  14. ^ "CRACKED Magazine Re-Launches - re> NEW YORK, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/" (Press release). New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  15. ^ Wong, David. "America's Only Humor Site". Cracked.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  16. ^ "CRACKED Online- the Internet Home of CRACKED Magazine". Replay.waybackmachine.org. 2005-02-03. Archived from the original on February 3, 2005. Retrieved 2012-04-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ Wong, David. "America's Only Humor Site". Cracked.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  18. ^ "Cracked.com Site Info". Alexa.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2012-04-26.