Russell Schwartz Joins Starz Entertainment as SVP, Business & Legal Affairs

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment has named Russell Schwartz to the position of Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs. Based in Los Angeles, Schwartz will head the company's business and legal affairs group for its growing Starz Originals and TV production business.  The announcement was made by Steve Beabout, Starz Entertainment's Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

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A 25-year TV industry veteran, Schwartz most recently was a consultant, with clients including individual producers, new media start ups, ABC Studios and ABC Network.  Schwartz spent 17 years at HBO in various business affairs positions and prior to that worked for GTG Entertainment and CBS Entertainment as a business affairs executive.  Schwartz came to Hollywood after being a partner at the law firm of Sachnoff & Weaver, which has since merged with Reed Smith, a top 20 international law firm. 

While at HBO, Schwartz shepherded the mega-hit "Everybody Loves Raymond," as well as working on series starring Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Charles Dutton, John Leguizamo and Ben Stiller. Schwartz has also held various senior executive positions in the television business with responsibility for television production, financing, distribution, merchandising, strategic planning, and new media.

"Russell brings to Starz a wealth of knowledge, experience, and business affairs acumen that will serve the company well as we expand our footprint into original programming," said Beabout. "Specifically, Russell has extensive experience in the premium television business from his time at HBO and has a track record of success throughout his career practicing law and in the entertainment industry. He is a terrific addition to our executive team."

"I am very pleased to join Starz in this period of growth for the company and on the heels of its strong entrance into the original programming space," said Schwartz. "I look back fondly on my time at HBO with colleagues Chris Albrecht and Carmi Zlotnik and am delighted that the opportunity arose where we could work together again."

Schwartz graduated with a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and received his J.D. from Cornell Law School. Schwartz resides with his family in Los Angeles. 

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 16 premium channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 18.2 million and 32.8 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group.

Contact:

Eric Becker
Starz Entertainment
(720) 852-4065
[email protected]

SOURCE Starz Entertainment, LLC