Michael Jay Solomon

Solomon began his career in film distribution with United Artists (UA) in 1956 at the age of 18. When he graduated from New York University at age 21, UA sent him to Panama to open the Central American territory for American films. He travelled to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras, as well as Panama.[6] A year later he was assigned to Bogota, Colombia and when he was 24 he became manager of Peru and Bolivia.

After 8 years with United Artists, MCA (now Comcast, Universal, and NBC) hired Solomon to start their Latin American TV division. He resided in Mexico and Brazil, and put most of the TV stations on the air in Latin America. After several years, he moved back to New York and conducted international business in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa as well as Latin America. He became a Vice President at MCA at 30 years old. He spent 14 years at MCA.

In 1978 Solomon co-founded Telepictures Corporation and served as its Chairman and CEO. Telepictures grew to become one of the largest U.S. television syndication companies at that time, and one of the largest international distribution companies.[7] Telepictures became a public company (NASDAQ) 14 months after Solomon became CEO in January, 1980.[8] The company created television syndication with the series The People’s Court, which is still on the air after 32 years. Telepictures was the owner and operator of six television stations in the U.S. (one in Puerto Rico),[9] and the publisher of six magazines, including US magazine (now US Weekly), which they bought out of bankruptcy with Jann Wenner, co-founder and publisher of the pop-culture magazine Rolling Stone.[9][10] He was responsible for introducing American content to third world countries such as China,[11] Russia, and India. He was also the first international distributor of The Grammys, MTV, and E! Entertainment Television (more commonly known as E!).

In 1985 Telepictures merged with Lorimar to form Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation.[12] Solomon became the new company's President and served on its Board of Directors.[13] During his tenure, Lorimar-Telepictures became the largest television production and distribution company in the U.S., producing major television series such as Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, and ALF among others.[14][15] These series were produced at the Lorimar-Telepictures Studios, (formerly MGM Studios), which is now Sony Pictures Entertainment.

In 1989, Lorimar-Telepictures was acquired by Warner Bros. Television.[16] Solomon became President of Warner Bros. International Television, where he oversaw sales and marketing operations for television cable and satellite companies outside of the U.S.[5] Warner Bros. expanded international telecommunications interests. Solomon is a co-founder of HBO OLE (now HBO Latin America).[17] Solomon co-founded the first satellite-delivered station in Scandinavia (SF Succe), and co-owned a TV and feature film production company in India (Armitraj-Solomon) and France.[6][18] He was the first international distributor of The Grammys, MTV and E! Entertainment Television, (more commonly known as E!).[19]

In 1994, following his tenure at Warner Bros., Solomon began his own television communications company, Solomon Entertainment Enterprises.[20] He distributed independent TV product to the international market and formed a partnership with Canal +, France and UFA, Germany to produce TV movies.

During this time period, Solomon created El Camino Entertainment Group, Inc. (now called North American Midway Entertainment), a company that provides amusement park rides, games and food to approximately 15 million fairgoers every year in 20 states and 4 Canadian provinces.[21]

Solomon also partnered with Shanghai Media Group Broadband(SMGBB) and RayV (an Israeli company) which subsequently was acquired by Yahoo.[22]

Truli Media Group Inc. was founded by Solomon in 2010, and he served as Chairman and CEO.[23] Truli is a digital aggregator of content focusing on family and faith. The Company was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in May, 2018.[24]

Solomon founded Digital Content International (DCI) in June 2017. DCI is a global aggregator of original and licensed video content that is distributed to terrestrial and digital networks over CDN. In October 2017, Solomon formed a working relationship with Espen Huseby, owner, and CEO of Nordic World, an independent producer and distributor of video content in Scandinavia, and the owner of approximately 2000 video titles.[1] DCI acquires and re-licenses video content globally.[25]

Solomon is a Founder and Chairman of Involvy AB, which is an advisory firm based in Sweden with founders based in different European countries and in the U.S., and partners with developing companies to nurture growth and support expansion. Involvy AB contributes with its professional skills and international network, working in projects involving partnerships and investments to push growth and sustainability.

Solomon is a Board Member of GIVE Nation, which is a global social impact project whose goal is to make a positive impact for a better human existence through the empowerment of children. It partners with advanced technology, leading educational programs, businesses, and charities in the pursuit of this goal.

Solomon is a member of the Executive Committee of Working Nation. This is a nonprofit media content company focused on the future of work and how corporations, governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions are working to close the jobs skills gap that is threatening to disrupt our economy.[26]

Solomon was recently appointed as a Board Member of THE GENIUS INSTITUTE.  This technology platform is dedicated to the development of the individual, in attaining professional goals and in creating rewarding relationships.  More importantly, this program has been designed to aid organizations in their interactions with employees so that they can build a sustainable track record in their performance and growth within the company.

Solomon has joined the Board of Advisors of a new venture, Back to Space. The goal of the company is to inspire and enhance an interest in science, engineering and space, by constructing a high-tech lunar landscape experience facility in Texas.  This facility will have the ability to simulate riding in a rocket, landing on the moon, and experiencing a walk on the moon’s surface.

Solomon was founder and owner of Prime Time Communications in Spain and Romania, and a co-owner of Iguana Productions in Peru.[27] In May 2016, Solomon was named Chairman of the Board of VidaPrimo, a Latin entertainment video channel ranking 4th worldwide with 24 million unique visitors in January 2016.[28]

Solomon was presented the Jerusalem Award in 1989, by the Honorable Howard L. Berman, attorney and member of the US House of Representatives. He received this award for work with the Shaare Zedek Medical Center's Pediatric department. The center's charter is to provide medical care to the people of Israel regardless of race, religion, color, age or ability to pay.[29]

Solomon served on the Board of Overseers of New York University Stern School of Business for 33 years, is a special advisor to the President of Emerson College in Boston[2] and is on their Board of Advisors.

He is a Founder of The Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, and was Founding Chairman of The Jerusalem Foundation of the West Coast of the United States. He is also the Honorary Chairman of the Actors Equity of China, being the first American to ever hold this post.[30] Solomon served on the Entertainment Business & Management Advisory Board at UCLA.[31] He also served on the board of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and [32] the group that awards International Emmy Awards), and on the board of the USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism/London School of Economics Communication Degree Program. Solomon is a Founder of the American Film Market Association (AFM). AFM is a network of acquisition and development executives from more than 70 countries that meet once a year to sell, finance and acquire films.[33] In March 2013 he was nominated to receive the annual Ellis Island Medal of Honor.