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Harrington School of Communication and Media

Advisory Board

Sid Cohen

Sid Cohen

President of MGM Domestic Television, Retired
Santa Monica, CA

Sid Cohen served as President of MGM Domestic Television Distribution from September 1991 to December 1999. He oversaw marketing and distribution of MGM and United Artists product in the United States and Canada to all broadcast television markets, basic cable networks, features to network television, as well as pay television in Canada. Mr. Cohen established MGM's Advertiser Sales Division, which reported directly to him.

Cohen was responsible for the distribution of such high-profile syndicated projects as The Outer Limits (the award-winning science fiction anthology series), Poltergeist The Legacy, Stargate SGI, LAPD Life on the Beat, and the National Enquirer. In addition, he created the successful concept of premiering programs on the Showtime Network and then placing them in a broadcast window, thereby generating an additional revenue stream.

In addition, Cohen negotiated significant agreements with major television and cable programmers for all MGM library product. This included placing In the Heat of the Night on TNT Network simultaneously with broadcast television on a strip basis while still licensed to the CBS Network, the first time that this arrangement had been accomplished in television. He also negotiated the deal with Lifetime Television for airing of the heralded series Thirtysomething. Two major film packages, Lion's Pride and MGM Family Classics, were successfully placed on television stations throughout the country, as well as on the TNT Network.

Prior to his position at MGM, Cohen served for six years as President of Domestic Television Distribution at King World Productions. In that capacity, he supervised the sales and marketing campaigns for such popular first-run syndicated shows as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Inside Edition. He was also responsible for the launch of Rock-n-Roll Evening News, Comedy Club and the game show Headline Chasers. In addition, he developed the company's sales and marketing management structure and oversaw the distribution of four feature film packages.

From 1979 to 1984, Cohen served as VP, Feature Planning and Sales Development for the Domestic Television Distribution Division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. During his tenure, he implemented unique syndication campaigns on behalf of such top-rated properties as Cheers, Taxi, and Entertainment Tonight, among others. Additionally, he created the first satellite-delivered feature film package for free over the air television on a regularly scheduled national basis, as well as film packages for national syndication.

Before joining Paramount, Cohen was Western Division Manager for Warner Bros. Television Distribution, and syndicated programs such as Roots, The Waltons, and Welcome Back Kotter in the western United States.

Cohen is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Business in marketing and advertising. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the College of Business in April 2000, and currently serves on its advisory council.

Cohen served in the Army for two years as an infantry lieutenant.