Larry Namer | |
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![]() Larry Namer, Studio city, California on March 8, 2013 |
Larry Namer is an entertainment and media entrepreneur of Movies USA Magazine.[1]
Biography
[edit]Namer attended Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1966.[2][3] He then attended Brooklyn College, graduating in 1971 with a degree in economics.[4]
After graduation, he worked as an assistant cable splicer for what was then called Sterling Manhattan Cable which was later acquired by Time Inc.[5]
After several years as a technician, he became the Vice Chairman of the Cable TV division of the Electrical Workers Union. By age 25, he became the Director of Operations at Manhattan Cable and a year later was given sales and marketing. In 1979, he became Director of Corporate Development and was charged with building businesses derived from non-entertainment uses of the cable TV systems.[6]
He was recruited to become VP/General Manager of Valley Cable TV in Los Angeles.[7] It was here that he became involved in the program department as well as corporate finance, and broadened his executive skills beyond managing the technical areas.
Namer and his friend Alan Mruvka created a plan for a TV network, Movietime, that would eventually become E!Entertainment Television.[8] The platform would give rise to shows such as Talk Soup and Fashion Police starring Joan Rivers.[9] Namer and Mruvka eventually sold their stake in the company, which is now owned by Comcast.
In 1989, he was awarded the President's Award from the National Cable Television Association.[10] While remaining on the Board of E!, he started a media company in Russia called Comspan Communications.[11] The company promoted or produced several hundred rock concerts and brought the soap opera Santa Barbara to Russia. Additionally, the company was heavily involved in live sporting events and produced and promoted the Champions Tennis Tour with Conners, McEnroe, Borg and others. They also brought the Harlem Globetrotters to Russia in 1995 marking the first time the Globetrotters visited Russia in almost 50 years when Wilt Chamberlain was on that team.[12]
Namer has played a significant part in launching several other TV networks around the world and interactive television, serving as a consultant to Microsoft.[13] He also consulted for World Digital Media, a joint venture between Sirius Radio Shack and Dish Network.[14] After E!, Namer created and launched several companies in the United States and overseas, including Steeplechase Media, Comspan Communications, Comspan Russia, and, with Martin Pompadur and Jean Zhang, Metan Development Group.[5][15][16]
In September 2011, Namer was named as the first recipient of the “Aaron Spelling Award” at 4th Annual Investment Seminar & Global Independence in Beverly Hills.[17][18]
In October 2011, Namer joined the advisory board of SuperBox Inc.[19]
Mr. Namer currently serves as President/CEO, Metan.[20][21] Metan's flagship series is Hello! Hollywood!, a weekly entertainment news series tailored to Chinese audiences, offering up the latest in celebrity, pop culture and lifestyle news.[22] Since its launch in summer 2009, the series is now available on over 40 television stations in China and six in North America reaching over one billion Mandarin speaking viewers.[23] Hello! Hollywood's premier content is also available on 10 of China's top online portals, reaching more than four million viewers weekly.[24] His comedy series, Return To Da Foo Tsun, was nominated as best comedy at the Asian TV Award.[25] From his work and experience in Metan, Larry Namer offers his two-cents about where the Chinese market is headed.[26][27][28]
In 2017, Metan Global Entertainment collaborated with Company Films, Bruce Lee Entertainment LLC, Benaroya Pictures, and 8K Miles Media Group to produce The Bruce Lee Project. Mr. Namer handled sales and development for the 13 episode project. [29]
Larry Namer received the 2024 Media Visionary Award from the Kennedy Space Center.[30]
Currently, Larry Namer serves as the president and CEO of Metan and chairman of LJN Media, a development firm that specializes in entertainment related projects. [31]
References
[edit]- ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (1987-07-30). "Advertising; Promoting Movies Via Cable". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "larry namer, Class of 1966 - Abraham Lincoln High School 410 - Classmates". Classmates.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ Raymond, Joan (14 October 2008). "A New Yorker's Taste of Home, Found in Los Angeles". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Brooklyn College 75th Anniversary Web Site". infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ a b "Larry Namer". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Larry Namer, at the Forefront of Entertainment". Business Innovators Magazine. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "TV vets' startup targets Chinese market". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ Lavallee, Jules. "Larry Namer, President/CEO, Metan Global Entertainment Group/ President, FilmCapital.io/ Co-founder, BTYKWN.com". Influential People News. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2481432/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
- ^ National Cable Television Association
- ^ Flanigan, James (2003-11-12). "Americans Still See Big Opportunities in Russia". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Board of Directors - World Film Institute". World Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Larry Namer: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Larry Namer, Founder of E! Entertainment & Metan Global Entertainment Speaks with Y-Labs Fellows about Diversity in Media". Medium. Y-Labs Blog. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "About Metan | Metan Global Entertainment | Page 2". www.metanglobalentertainment.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Metan Development Group in major partnership with Shandong Film & TV Group Corporation - Television Asia Plus". Television Asia Plus. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Tips From Larry Namer - an American Media Entrepreneur in China". Actors Reporter. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ HelloHollywood. "Larry Namer Honored With Aaron Spelling Award". bitLanders. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "E! Entertainment Television Co-Founder Larry Namer Joins Advisory Board of SuperBox, Inc". m.marketwired.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ Zakkour, Michael. "Hollywood Vet Producing TV Shows For China - Viewers And Brands Love Them". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Larry Namer - iTV-Asia.com". Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "E! Co-Founder Now Helping China Say Hello! Hollywood". Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Metan learns what Chinese audiences want". Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Metan Global Entertainment China-centric media and entertainment company". www.metanglobalentertainment.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ "Larry Namer Biography". IMDb. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Tong, L. "15 Great Chinese Dramas to Binge". WIRED. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Larry Namer, Founder of E! Entertainment & Metan Global Entertainment Speaks with Y-Labs Fellows about Diversity in Media". Medium. Y-Lab Ventures. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Rachel Zoe speaks at FASHINNOVATION Worldwide Talks 2020 NYFW with Mara Hoffman, Katia Beauchamp of Birchbox, and Sofia Resing". Fashion United. Press Club. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Chu, Karen. "'The Bruce Lee Project' Competition Series From Keanu Reeves, Shannon Lee Set for India, Middle East". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ https://southeast.newschannelnebraska.com/story/50854768/wasa-water-launches-into-space-on-june-8th-at-kennedy-space-center-honoring-sir-gary-kong-illustrious-visionary-award
- ^ "Larry Namer President LJN Media/ NFTY Awards". Miami NFT Week. Retrieved February 15, 2024.