Mark Pedowitz
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mark Pedowitz
| office = President of The CW
| term_start = April 28, 2011
| term_end = October 3, 2022
| predecessor = Dawn Ostroff
| successor = Dennis Miller
| alma_mater = Rockford College
John Marshall Law School
| occupation = Producer, executive
| spouse = Carolyn Martin
}}
Mark Pedowitz is an American entertainment executive. From 2011 to 2022, he was the president, and then chairman and CEO of The CW, after replacing the former president of entertainment Dawn Ostroff.[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/467448-Pedowitz_Named_CW_President.php Pedowitz Named CW President] During his time at The CW, Pedowitz oversaw all aspects including programming, sales, marketing, distribution, finance, research and publicity.
Personal life
Pedowitz is of Jewish background.{{cite web | url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a34739532/kat-graham-felt-heard-bringing-up-issues-during-the-vampire-diaries/ | title=Kat Graham Says She Felt Heard Bringing up Issues During "The Vampire Diaries" | date=20 November 2020 }} His alma maters are Rockford College and the John Marshall Law School. He is married to Carolyn Martin.{{cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/mark-pedowitz-named-president-touchstone-television-and-executive-vice-president-abc-entertainment-television-group/|title=Mark Pedowitz Named President, Touchstone Television And Executive Vice President, ABC Entertainment Television Group|work=The Walt Disney Company|date=April 20, 2004|access-date=October 5, 2022}} The couple have no children.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/cw-mark-pedowitz-la-complex-netflix-vampire-diaries-318772/|title=CW President Mark Pedowitz Opens Up about Ratings, Profits and "Vampire Diaries" (Q&A)|author=Lacey Rose|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2022}}
Career
Pedowitz began his career in the entertainment industry as an attorney at MCA Inc. in 1979. He was senior vice president of business affairs and administration, MGM/UA Television Production Group, a position he had held since 1987. From 1985–87, Pedowitz was vice president of business affairs and general counsel, The Landsburg Company. From 1980–85, he was vice president of business affairs, Reeves Entertainment. He served as executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Television Group, overseeing all business, legal and financial affairs for ABC Primetime and Touchstone Television, as well as business/legal affairs for ABC Daytime. He joined ABC in 1991 as senior vice president of business affairs and contracts.[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogstv/51713691-63/president-pedowitz-business-entertainment.html.csp The CW names a new president]
Pedowitz in 2010 set up Pine Street Entertainment, a production company which had a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Television.[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-pedowitz-poised-take-top-169428 Mark Pedowitz Poised to Take Top CW Job] In 2011 he was appointed as the president of The CW. He eventually became the longest-tenured head for a broadcast network and was promoted to the position of chairman and chief executive officer in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mark-pedowitz-extends-cw-deal-promoted-network-ceo-1268562/|title=Mark Pedowitz Extends CW Deal, Promoted to Network CEO|author=Lesley Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 10, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2022}}
During his tenure, Pedowitz focused on trying to broaden the audience for The CW, increased the diversity at the network, launched the Arrowverse and made the shows of the network available through The CW app. He also increased the amount of original programming, with the network airing shows on Sunday and Saturday, as well as during the summer. Producer Greg Berlanti credited him with giving many shows that were not successful initially a chance in contrast to other networks.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/mark-pedowitz-exits-cw-chairman-ceo-nexstar-1235130707/|title=Mark Pedowitz Exits As Chairman & CEO Of The CW As Nexstar Acquisition Closes|author=Nellie Andreeva|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 3, 2022|access-date=October 3, 2022}}
Pedowitz resigned on October 3, 2022 amidst the acquisition of the channel by Nexstar Media Group and was replaced by Dennis Miller as President.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-cw-ceo-mark-pedowitz-exits-as-nexstar-sets-new-leadership-1235230967/|title=The CW CEO Mark Pedowitz Exits as Nexstar Sets New Leadership|author=Lesley Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 3, 2022|access-date=October 5, 2022}} He revived Pine Street Entertainment following his departure. In 2023, Pedowitz and his production company signed with CAA for representation in all areas.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2023-03-02 |title=Mark Pedowitz Signs With CAA |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mark-pedowitz-signs-caa-pine-street-entertainment-1235339280/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Presidents of The CW Television Network}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pedowitz, Mark}}
Category:American Broadcasting Company executives
Category:American television executives
Category:Paramount Global people
Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people
Category:University of Illinois Chicago School of Law alumni