Mark Prasuhn

• Watertown, New York
• Facebook

Hi, I'm Mark Prasuhn, President & General Manager of WPBS-TV. For 20+ years I've led television and digital content production/distribution companies in C-suite roles.

Mark Prasuhn's Bio:

Mark Prasuhn's Experience:

• President and General Manager at WPBS-TV

  June 2019 - Present | Watertown, New York

  Direct day-to-day operations of WPBS, ensuring that each staff member and department effectively contributes to overall goals, and continue to build, motivate and retain an outstanding professional team. Report directly to a volunteer Board of Directors, collaborating with them on financial planning and oversight of WPBS. Act as focal point for fundraising, particularly for major gifts and foundation efforts. Represent WPBS and nurture strong relationships with the state and national public broadcasting content providers, political leaders and government officials, K-12 and higher education leaders, corporate executives, underwriters, foundations, members and viewers. Provide programming leadership and direction for four over-the-air stations (WPBS-DT, PBS Kids, Create and World Channel) to ensure an exceptional content offering for viewers in the two-nation region.

• President at CMU College of Makeup Art & Design

  March 2018 - May 2019 | Toronto, Ontario

• Senior Vice-President, Operations and Strategic Partnerships at CMU College of Makeup Art & Design

  January 2017 - March 2018 | Toronto, Ontario

  Oversee business operations - finance, administration, talent management, IT services, facilities, legal and business affairs. Implement strategies for growth and new revenue-generating initiatives. Initiate and build partnerships with key stakeholder/employer production sectors (film, TV, digital media, theatre, fashion, mobile/console/PC gaming). Act as governance liaison with Ministry officials and assure regulatory compliance. Enable the effective delivery of a highly specialized curriculum with courses in practical & digital SFX, film and TV, fashion, theatre, prosthetics and creature design.

• Vice President and General Manager at Gusto TV

  September 2013 - January 2017 | Ottawa, Ontario

  As General Manager, I helmed the successful national launch of Gusto TV as a food/lifestyle focused pay TV channel and cross-platform content offering. Selected and acquired superior programming, and implemented promotional and scheduling strategies resulting in 88% increase in year-over-year audience ratings, and ranking in top 15 female-oriented pay TV channels in Canada. Mobilized talent and resources and drove launch of website (gustotv.com) and social media platforms as content hubs and marketing/viewer acquisition tools. Provided decisive and energetic leadership to day-to-day operations including programming and acquisitions, marketing, digital media, finance, legal, business & regulatory affairs, human resources and technical/broadcast operations. Positioned the channel to compete effectively against much larger competitors through skillful content curation and branding, leading to its acquisition by Bell Media, effective September 2016. Participated in the transition and re-focusing of the company on content production and international distribution on OTT and other platforms.

• President at Vantage Media Inc.

  November 2011 - September 2013 | Toronto, Ontario

  Provided strategic and operational consulting services to broadcasters and content production/distribution companies. Assignments and achievements have included preparation of regulatory applications, delivering management training for major broadcaster groups in Asia, devising pitch documents, budgets and financing plans for content production companies, and generating strategic advice for charity/not-for-profit media organizations.

• C.O.O. at Jumpwire Media LLC

  January 2012 - September 2013 | Toronto, Ontario

  Bolstered early stage growth of company by developing/co-authoring business plans, research reports, social media marketing strategies, budgets, proposals and client presentations. Contributed to growth of online audiences for major radio station brands by over 150% in 2012 using web-based research and measurement tools and social media.

• Chief Operating and Content Officer, Television Division at Zoomer Media

  June 2010 - November 2011 | Toronto, Ontario

  After the sale of VisionTV (S-Vox) to Zoomer Media in June 2010. I retained my former role (see below) as COO and Head of Programming/Content under the new ownership, providing leadership to the television division which became Zoomer Media's leading profit centre.

• Chief Operating Officer and SVP Programming at S-Vox (formerly VisionTV)

  October 2001 - June 2010 | Toronto, Ontario

  Oversaw day to day operations for much of the company, including advertising/paid program sales, legal, regulatory and business affairs, fundraising/underwriting, human resources, distribution/affiliate relations, Board and stakeholder relations and (from 2007) programming, marketing and branding, online/digital media, production/post-production and technical operations/engineering/master control/IT. Directed a team of 40 - 50 staff including up to a dozen direct reports (V-P and Director level). Developed and implemented corporate strategy and business development initiatives. Amplified annual revenues from approximately $14m in 2001 to $35m by 2010. Envisioned and created a production/distribution subsidiary, VisionTV International, which co-produced award-winning factual series for major international broadcasters. Transformed program schedule and branding, doubling VisionTV total audience ratings and tripling prime time ratings between 2007 and 2010. As founding President, spearheaded launch of Daystar Television Canada (formerly known as the Christian Channel) and its subsequent sale. Steered M&A activity including purchase of two local OTA stations (CHNU-TV Vancouver/Victoria and CIIT-TV Winnipeg) from Rogers Media in 2008; and the sale of S-Vox broadcast assets to Zoomer Media in 2009/10. Organizational representative to key external stakeholders, customers and media. Panelist/speaker at CRTC regulatory hearings. Primary liaison with faith and cultural communities, including Punjabi-Canadian community.

• V-P Revenue and Commercial Ventures at VisionTV

  January 2001 - October 2001 | Toronto, Ontario

  Pioneered startup of new division responsible for all revenue generating activity (affiliate relations, advertising sales, paid programming). As General Manager, successfully launched ONE: Get Fit, a health/wellness digital network carried on all major cable, satellite and telco systems across Canada.

• Chief Operating Officer at Minds Eye Pictures

  June 1998 - January 2001 | Regina, Saskatchewan

  Member of Board of Directors. Guided day-to-day operations, affiliate companies, legal and business affairs, and corporate development, driving annual revenue from approximately $10m in 1998 to $50m in 2000. Reinforced corporate growth through founding of international program sales division (Minds Eye International), acquisition of video post-production, audio post and digital media companies, and equity injection via private placement. Executive Producer/Production Executive on several theatrical and direct-to-video feature films, dramatic television series, and educational online games.

• General Manager and Film Commissioner at SaskFILM

  September 1993 - June 1998 | Regina, Saskatchewan

  Chief Executive of provincial funding agency and film commission, reporting directly to Board made up of production industry, broadcaster and government representatives. Dealt directly with senior officials and politicians at the federal, provincial and municipal level. Drove annual production activity from approximately $7m in 1993 to $50m in 1998. Authored policies and program guidelines including SaskTel New Media Fund (Canada's first provincial fund supporting digital media) and catalyzed national and provincial training initiatives. Vigorously pursued co-production/export opportunities and international partnerships and profile. Opened Los Angeles locations office. Marketed and managed soundstage facility used for production of several theatrical feature films and TV series. Featured panelist and speaker at many industry and public events, press conferences and interviews with local and national media.

• Manager, Business Affairs at TVOntario

  April 1990 - August 1993 | Toronto, Ontario

  Negotiated all pre sales and acquisitions from distributors and independent producers. Developed and presented sponsorship proposals for corporate and government underwriting. Oversaw scheduling of internal production assets. Participated in establishment of international production consortia with PBS, NHK, and other broadcasters.

• Production Manager at TVOntario

  January 1989 - April 1990 | Toronto, Ontario

  Managed logistical and technical needs of television series productions (documentaries, children's, current affairs programming). Booked facilities, locations, equipment and crew. Scheduled and budgeted productions and monitored/managed performance against budget and schedule objectives.

Mark Prasuhn's Education:

• York University - Schulich School of Business

  Executive Program
  Concentration: Sales Management

• University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

  M.B.A.
  Concentration: Marketing, Accounting

• York University

  B.F.A.
  Concentration: Film and TV Production

• Queen's University

  Concentration: English, Psychology, Film Studies

Mark Prasuhn's Interests & Activities: