Technical Operations Media Production

RICHARD HART

SENIOR MEDIA PRODUCTION & TECHNICAL OPERATIONS LEADER

New York, NY • 917-***-**** • ********@*****.*** • https://linkedin.com/in/richard-hart-8967276/

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Media production executive with 20+ years of expertise managing flagship CBS programs, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, and 60 Minutes, driving consistent excellence in content delivery and quality.

Proven track record of orchestrating major live events such as presidential debates and breaking news coverage, coordinating technical operations and resource allocation to ensure seamless execution and broadcast integrity under intense pressure.

Visionary leader for digital transformation efforts, implementing cutting-edge production technologies that modernize workflows, significantly enhance content accessibility, and improve collaboration across various departments in fast-paced environments.

Excels in optimizing resource allocation and managing cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration that aligns production strategies with organizational goals while consistently maintaining operational efficiency and high-quality standards.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Studio Production Operations Management

Project Management

Critical Facility Management

Digital Transformation

Resource Allocation

Live Event Production

Workflow Optimization

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Client Onboarding & Relationship Management

Strategic Planning

Budget Management

Team Leadership

Broadcast Standards

Process Improvement

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Led below-the-line production at CBS Broadcast Center for major shows such as CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, CBS Weekend News, and 60 Minutes while supporting strategic restructuring efforts that resulted in a $20M annual payroll reduction.

Directed production operations across 17 studios at the CBS Broadcast Center and Ed Sullivan Theater for shows such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Drew Barrymore Show, and various Black Entertainment Television (BET) shows, driving $30M+ in sales annually and winning 2 Emmys for production excellence.

Drove the technical upgrade and restoration of the Ed Sullivan Theater for the launch of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, overseeing construction, design approvals, and production credit applications while enhancing the theater's long-term viability.

Spearheaded a digital transformation project at CBS, modernizing network workflows by transitioning from analog to digital content management systems, significantly improving content accessibility and storage while streamlining production processes.

Established CBS Corporation’s Shared Services department, reengineering HR and finance workflows to save $5M annually by automating travel, payroll, and expense systems, which reduced administrative overhead and improved operational efficiency.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Paramount Global, New York, NY

VP, CBS Production Operations (Paramount) Sep 2017 to Present

Played a key leadership role managing below-the-line production operations for flagship programs such as CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and breaking news coverage following significant restructuring within Paramount/Viacom/CBS.

Oversaw production schedules, staffing, and technical operations for live, near-live, and recorded productions across CBS networks, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring that broadcast deadlines and quality standards were consistently met.

Directed the end-to-end production of high-profile events such as the 2024 Vice Presidential Debate, ensuring flawless execution by managing technical teams, resources, and logistics across multiple departments within the CBS Broadcast Center.

Planned and executed the Broadcast Center’s COVID-19 response, maintaining continuity of studio productions by implementing comprehensive safety measures and remote working strategies, ensuring the facility remained fully functional and compliant.

VP, Entertainment Production & Technical Operations (CBS Television Network) Jan 2006 to Aug 2017

Provided strategic direction and leadership for all studio operations and production management at the CBS Broadcast Center and the Ed Sullivan Theater, managing all below-the-line resources for live, near-live, and recorded CBS productions.

Supported internal productions such as CBS Sports, CBS News, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Drew Barrymore Show as well as external productions such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Samantha Bee, and Harry Connick Show.

Guided and supervised a team of 247 full-time staff (including technicians, stagehands, and makeup artists) while also managing 200+ seasonal freelancers and negotiating labor agreements with various unions such as IBEW, IATSE, and DGA.

Led the restoration and technical upgrade of the Ed Sullivan Theater, overseeing architectural design, technical installations and NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission approvals to ensure readiness for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert premiere.

Strategized and executed a digital transformation initiative that transitioned CBS from analog and tape-based workflows to digital, improving content creation, accessibility, and archival processes to enhance operational efficiency across the network.

Managed all space planning and facility operations for 24/7, 365-day operations at the CBS Broadcast Center, ensuring all production needs were met while optimizing space and resource utilization.

Director of Finance, CBS Operations & Engineering (CBS Television Network) Mar 2000 to Dec 2005

Spearheaded financial planning and reporting for a $150M division at CBS Television Network, ensuring accurate budgeting, forecasting, and analysis for the distribution of CBS, UPN, and syndicated programming across multiple platforms.

Collaborated cross-functionally with production, engineering, and operations teams to ensure that financial strategies aligned with business objectives, delivering cost efficiencies and supporting long-term organizational goals.

Drove initiatives to expand the studio production business at the CBS Broadcast Center, identifying growth opportunities and leveraging financial insights to increase production capacity and generate new revenue streams.

Supervised the Strategic Sourcing Group, overseeing procurement for a diverse range of products and services, including critical broadcast technology, while negotiating contracts and optimizing supplier relationships to reduce costs.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Paramount Global, New York, NY

Director of Shared Services (CBS, Inc.)

Created and launched the CBS Corporation Shared Services department, centralizing payroll, accounts payable, and travel and entertainment functions, resulting in $5M in annual savings and a 20% reduction in workforce through streamlined processes.

Transformed HR operations by reengineering workflows, introducing a web-based travel and entertainment program and implementing a time and collection system that improved efficiency and reduced administrative overheads.

Director of Financial Operations (CBS News)

Oversaw global financial and operational resources for CBS News' international news-gathering organization, ensuring effective management of budgets and resource allocation to support news coverage across various regions.

Contributed significantly to the establishment of the European satellite news gathering service based in Luxembourg, collaborating with CBS and ten European broadcasters to enhance news reporting capabilities across the continent.

Formulated a strategic plan for merging with the European News Exchange (ENEX), involving the installation of earth stations in key locations such as Moscow and Tel Aviv as well as revitalization of infrastructure for CBS News' operations in the Far East.

Senior Financial Analyst, Special Events (CBS News)

Developed comprehensive annual operating budgets and conducted in-depth analyses of financial results while also creating detailed budgets and monthly forecasts for unscheduled news and political events to ensure optimal resource allocation.

Managed on-site financial operations for significant events, including the 1988 Democratic and Republican conventions, Gulf War coverage, and Nelson Mandela's election, ensuring accurate tracking of expenses and adherence to budgetary constraints.

Sales Accounting Manager (CBS News)

Prepared all sales invoices for the CBS News Division, effectively managing the collection process with a dedicated team of 5 staff members to ensure timely and accurate financial transactions and customer satisfaction.

Led the development and implementation of an efficient billing and accounts receivable system, streamlining financial processes and improving the overall accuracy and reliability of revenue tracking across the CBS News Division.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting Northeastern University - College of Business Administration

Founder & President, Northeastern University Black Business Student Society “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” Outstanding Young Man of America National Dean’s List

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