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Rich RossNew President of Walt Disney Studios
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Early Career in Television
- Joining Disney and Channel Leadership
- Success with Disney Channel Shows
- Prime-Time Dominance and Record Sales
- Appointment as Walt Disney Studios Chairman
- Current Roles and Affiliations
Early Life and Education
Richard "Rich" Ross was born in New York City. He pursued his higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor's degree in English and International Relations. His academic journey continued at Fordham University, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1986.
Early Career in Television
Before joining Disney, Ross worked as an executive at FX Network. From 1986 to 1993, he held key positions at Nickelodeon, where he showcased his skills in programming and development.
Joining Disney and Channel Leadership
In 1996, Ross joined the Disney team and became the President of Disney Channels Worldwide. Under his leadership, the network expanded significantly, reaching an audience of 14 million viewers. Today, it is accessible to 98 million homes in the United States alone and in 163 countries worldwide.
Success with Disney Channel Shows
Ross's tenure witnessed the creation of iconic Disney Channel shows such as "Lizzie McGuire," "That's So Raven," "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place," and "Sonny With a Chance." These series, along with popular movies like "High School Musical" and "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie," established hugely successful franchises that generated billions of dollars in revenue from merchandise and related products.
Prime-Time Dominance and Record Sales
Under Ross's leadership, Disney Channel became the number-one cable network in prime time for children aged 6-11 and 9-14. The cumulative sales of soundtrack albums from the channel's films reached an impressive 39 million copies.
Appointment as Walt Disney Studios Chairman
On October 5, 2009, Rich Ross was named Chairman of Walt Disney Studios. He replaced Dick Cook, who had resigned three weeks earlier amidst rumors of conflict with Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger over policies such as releasing new films on DVD shortly after their theatrical debut.
Current Roles and Affiliations
Ross currently serves on the board of directors for the Hollywood Radio and Television Society and Cable in the Classroom, an organization that provides discounted telecommunication services to educational institutions.
