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Tom O’Brien covers market research.

Expertise: Digital and Local TV Revenue Growth, Product and Business Strategy

Tom O’Brien is a strategic, innovative digital and television business leader who successfully operates at the nexus of digital, TV and technology.  He has successfully driven growth in both large and medium scale organizations by developing customer-focused strategies, products, cultures, and business models in news/editorial, programming, digital, and revenue.

A corporate officer of the Nexstar Media Group for nearly four years, Tom was the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of one of the largest local media groups in the country.  He was responsible for developing strategies to drive holistic revenue and audience growth across the company’s pure play digital and broadcast subsidiaries with the objective of accelerating Nexstar’s transformation into a next generation, multi-media company, which culminated with Nexstar’s $4.6B acquisition of Media General in 2017.

Initially joining Nexstar as Executive Vice President, Digital Media and Chief Revenue Officer in 2013, he was the P&L business leader of Nexstar’s digital group.  Tom significantly expanded Nexstar’s digital business portfolio by growing Nexstar’s local digital capabilities; in addition, to creating pure play digital subsidiaries.  Under his leadership, revenues grew to over $200MM, a 9-fold increase in the Company’s digital revenue.  His responsibilities included managing Nexstar’s local digital P&L including content, product, technology, and sales for what grew to over 100 websites and close to 200 mobile apps; executive leadership of Nexstar’s digital publishing technology company, video/ad technology companies and digital agency businesses; led Nexstar’s digital M&A, integration and business development strategies and execution; developed and implemented Nexstar’s comprehensive multi-screen audience strategy; and catalyzed multi-platform audience development and revenue opportunities across the company.

Prior to Nexstar, O’Brien worked for over 14 years in senior leadership roles at NBC Universal with operating responsibility for both television and digital businesses.  In his career at NBCU he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, CNBC; President and General Manager of NBC’s flagship station WNBC in New York; President and General Manager, KXAS in Dallas/Ft. Worth; and President and General Manager at WVIT in Connecticut.

Recognized for his work in the industry, Tom received the 2015 Technology Leadership Award by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine and was named a 2014 Digital All Star by B&C.  He was honored in April 2010 by New York’s City Harvest with their prestigious “Star of the City” award.  Tom and his team have been awarded an Emmy Award for Overall Station Excellence in 2008, a NATAS Emerging Media Award for web site nbc5i.com, as well as an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2007.  In 2006, Tom was honored with an Award of Excellence for TV/Cable General Management from the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT).

O’Brien graduated at the top of his class from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the School of Management.

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