NEW YORK, June 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hank Ratner, president and chief executive officer of The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG) today announced that Ryan O'Hara, a well-regarded industry executive with more than two decades of leading management experience, has joined the company as president of content, distribution and sales. The newly-created role is a key management position within The Madison Square Garden Company, with responsibility for the MSG Media division, the company's overall technology area and its marketing partnership division.
"As we continue to seek ways to strengthen our legendary brands and pursue strategic growth opportunities that expand our business, it is critical that we have the strongest and most experienced management team in place," said Mr. Ratner. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Mr. O'Hara, who will bring decades of leadership and management expertise to enhance the effectiveness and alignment of our operations, resulting in even greater success and growth for The Madison Square Garden Company."
As president of content, distribution and sales, Mr. O'Hara will be responsible for setting and overseeing a long-term vision, which maximizes the growth of MSG Media, and the company's corporate technology and marketing partnerships divisions, with the goal of achieving operational excellence and optimal integration of related functions.
"I am thrilled to be joining The Madison Square Garden Company at such an important time in its extraordinary history," said Mr. O'Hara. "My experience in media, sports and consumer products gives me a unique perspective on how to maximize assets and pursue strategic growth, and I'm looking forward to working with the well-respected management team and employees across MSG to help lead the company into its next celebrated chapter."
In his new role, Mr. O'Hara will oversee the management of MSG Media, which includes MSG and MSG+ regional sports networks and Fuse, the company's national television music network. In addition, Mr. O'Hara will oversee the management of the company's technology division, which is responsible for the development and implementation of an overall strategic vision that maximizes the company's technological capabilities and establishes it as a leader in technology innovation and integration. Mr. O'Hara will also be responsible for oversight of the company's marketing partnership area, which includes integrated sales, team sales, entertainment sales and sports properties sales. He will oversee the department's overall sales strategies and initiatives that are designed to maximize revenue, enhance service, retention and
activation efforts, and strengthen the quality and value of the company's partner base. Mr. O'Hara will join the company on July 1.
Mr. O'Hara joins The Madison Square Garden Company following a distinguished career in entertainment, media and consumer products. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of The Topps Company, a leading sports and entertainment trading card company which includes a confectionary business, wholly-owned media properties and newly created or acquired digital businesses. Prior to that, he held key management positions at Gemstar TV Guide International, including president of the TV Guide network, tvguide.com and TV Guide Broadband, where he repositioned and revitalized the network into a full-fledged programming service. While at Gemstar, Mr. O'Hara also served as president of the TVG Network, America's horse racing network, as well as senior vice president of business development and strategic planning.
Additionally, Mr. O'Hara served as director of interactive television strategy for BSKYB in London, a leading global satellite pay TV platform, and held the position of director of business development at Fox Cable Networks and Fox/Liberty Networks. Earlier in his career, he served as a management consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and in brand management at Nestle USA.
Mr. O'Hara received a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has twice been selected as one of CableFAX's 100 Most Influential People in the cable industry and is a recipient of the ITV Leadership Award from ITVT.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks; and Fuse, a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Networks also include high-definition channels, MSG HD and MSG+ HD, and Fuse includes its high-definition channel, Fuse HD. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including
the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.
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CONTACT: Kim Kerns; 212-465/6442
Kimberly.Kerns@msg.com
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