ESPN’s Jed Drake: A Seminal Career in Sports Broadcasting

Asserting notable influence in the field of television sports broadcasting for more than three decades, Jed Drake presently leverages his talents to manage a wide swath of production activities at ESPN, Inc. Serving as Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of Event Production since April 2000, Drake boasts distinction as one of the network’s longest tenured and most engaged team members. He joined the company during its second year of operation in 1980 and played an integral role in developing the programming that helped secure ESPN’s long-held reputation as a recognized leader in global sports broadcasting. 

Already well established as a television anchor thanks to the previous experience he amassed at NBC Sports and NBC affiliate WPTZ-TV, Jed Drake was originally hired by ESPN as a director and producer. Drake undertook his first major overseas project in 1987 when he relocated to Australia to supervise production of the America’s Cup, an endeavor he would repeat the following year, as well as in 1992 and 1995. Drake achieved another professional milestone in 1988 at the Calgary Winter Olympic Games where he served as Director for ABC’s bobsled and luge event presentations. Installed as a Coordinating Producer at ESPN in 1989, he helped launch Major League Baseball with 11 telecasts per week, programming that quickly developed into one of the network’s cornerstone divisions. Jed Drake subsequently earned a promotion to Senior Coordinating Producer in 1992 and took over as Vice President of Remote Production in 1996. 

The winner of 13 Sports Emmy Awards, Jed Drake received his B.S. in Broadcasting and Film from Boston University. He is currently immersed in steering production of ESPN’s World Cup Soccer coverage as the internationally loved game gains popularity among American audiences. Aside from his duties as Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of Event Production, Drake continues to helm sports broadcasting initiatives at ABC.  

Disney’s Top Honcho: Robert A. Iger

You don’t have to found your own company to influence its direction and growth. If the company is really large the influence goes beyond it. The influence can reach the industry and even the world.

This is the case Robert A. Iger who rose through the ranks to head one of the largest media company in the world. Early on there were already indications that Iger belonged at the top. He graduated from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Television and Radio, graduating magna cum laude.

While some end up in a career somewhat different from their undergraduate degree course, Iger went straight to television as a weatherman for a local TV station.  Then in 1974 he entered American Broadcasting Company and made his way up the ladder.  He reached the post of president in 1993 of the ABC Network Television Group until 1994 and then became president and COO of the parent company Capital Cities/ABC.

The in 1996 an ownership change came about with Walt Disney Company buying Capital Cities/ABC. Iger though was able to keep the position of president until 1999. In early 1999 he was appointed president of Walt Disney International and chairman of the ABC Group.

It can be said that Iger was an outsider but was good enough to now become part of Disney operations. Although initially some thought the move was just to get him away from the everyday management of ABC which was not faring very well at that time.

Nevertheless Iger’s star continued to shine by 2000 he was named president and COO of Disney making him effectively the number two man in the company. In 2005 he became the CEO. Among the changes he made was to decentralize the structure giving more authority to individual business units.

Under his watch Disney bought animation jewel Pixar in 2006. His move reconciled management with the group of Roy E. Disney who were disillusioned with what Disney had become. It was now getting back its position as the dominant animation movie maker. Under his lead Marvel Entertainment was purchased in 2009 adding more character franchise to the company.

We are seeing today more movie hits that are in the animation category and Disney has played a major role in it. Iger was added the title of company chairman in March 2012.