Broadcast Education Association
BEA2002
Don Ohlmeyer

Executive / Producer / Director / Creator / Entrepreneur

One of the most diversely successful professionals in television history, Don Ohlmeyer can speak with authority on all of the key aspects of the industry for he has reached the top: in programming and administration - as head of NBC; as a producer and director - of primetime drama and sports; as a creator of programs - including the Emmy-awarded "Special Bulletin"; as an entrepreneur - through his own company Ohlmeyer Communications.

To quote Bob Wright, Chairman of NBC: "Don's thing is winning. He shows up and good things happen." And Al Michaels, ABC's NFL Monday Night Football anchor says of him: "Don is not afraid of anything. He doesn't feel compelled to do anything for political reasons or do things because he's supposed to."

TO HIS CREDIT:

1999 (and 1972-1977) Producer of ABC's NFL Monday Night Football

1993-99 As President, NBC West Coast, moved the network from 3rd to lst Place in ratings while making it the only one of six broadcast networks to be profitable. Oversaw NBC Entertainment, NBC Studios and NBC Enterprises; launched such hits as Friends, ER, Homicide, Frasier, Providence, Will and Grace,and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

1982 formed Ohlmeyer Communications Company (OCC), a full-service advertising agency, marketing firm, and television consulting operation for clients such as NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball.

Some other career highlights:

Producer, Emmy Awards Show; created and produced, in conjunction with Bob Pittman, The MTV Awards Show; creator and producer of: Fast Copy, a magazine format series; a series of reality specials for ABC, Crimes of the Century; the critically acclaimed primetime series, Life Stories for NBC; The Skins Game, the most successful made-for-television golf franchise ever now in its nineteenth year on the air. Executive Producer of NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl and the World Series and the television movie The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story; Producer and Director for three ABC Olympic Broadcasts and developed Superstars for television.

Member: Director's Guild of America; Writer's Guild of America; Academy of Television Arts and Scences

TO HIS HONOR:

  • 16 Emmy awards
  • 2 Peabody Awards
  • 3 Humanitas awards
  • Cine Golden Eagle Award
  • Miami Film Festival Award
  • National Film Board Award
  • GLAAD Media Award

EDUCATION:

1967 B.A. Communications (with emphasis on Drama and Creative writing) Notre Dame