Peter Chernin

Peter Chernin (born May 29, 1951) is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and CEO of The Chernin Group (TCG), which he founded in 2010.[2][3][4][5] TCG manages, operates and invests in businesses in the media, entertainment, and technology sectors. Specifically, the company focuses on three areas: making investments in technology and media companies in the US, developing premium content for film and television, and capitalizing on strategic business opportunities in emerging markets.

Peter Chernin
Chernin in 2007
Born (1951-05-29) May 29, 1951[1]
Harrison, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
OccupationChairman and CEO, The Chernin Group
Spouse(s)
Megan Brody
​
​
(m. after 1980)​
Children3

Early life and education

Chernin was born in Harrison, New York, the son of Mary (née Townsend) and Herbert Chernin.[6] Chernin, whose father was Jewish, was raised Unitarian.[7] He earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley.[6]

Career

Chernin joined Fox in 1989 from Lorimar Film Entertainment, where he served as president and chief operating officer. Earlier, he served as executive vice president of programming and marketing for Showtime/The Movie Channel. Prior to Showtime, Chernin was vice president of Development and Production at the David Gerber Company. He began his career in publishing, first as associate publicity director of St. Martin's Press and later as an editor for Warner Books.

News Corp.

Prior to starting TCG, Chernin served as president and chief operating officer of News Corporation and Chairman and CEO of the Fox Group from 1996 to 2009.[8][9] As President and COO of one of the world's largest media companies, he oversaw diversified global operations spanning five continents, including the production and distribution of film and television programming; television, satellite and cable broadcasting and News Corp.'s aggressive expansion into the digital media and internet space.[9]

During his two decades with News Corporation, Chernin gained a reputation as an executive with a unique mastery of both the creative and corporate sides of the entertainment business. He headed both Twentieth Century Fox Filmed Entertainment and, earlier, the Fox Broadcasting Company. He has also had oversight of Fox's tremendous growth in sports, cable and general entertainment television programming and distribution in the U.S. and internationally.[10]

Under Chernin's leadership, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation produced the two top-grossing movies of all time, Titanic and Avatar;[11] the Fox Broadcasting Company became the No. 1-ranked network among the key demographic of 18- to 49-year-olds; and Twentieth Century Fox Television, the network production arm of Fox, became the No. 1 supplier of programming to all television networks.[12]

News Corporation's cable network group experienced explosive growth during Chernin's tenure – going from zero to more than 400 million cable subscribers in less than 10 years. By the time Chernin left, Fox had one of the most powerful collections of cable assets in the world: Fox News Channel, FX, Fox Sports Net, Fox Movie Channel, National Geographic Television, SPEED and the Fox Reality Channel.[12] Prior to his 1996 appointment, Chernin served four years as chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment where he oversaw all aspects of the studio's worldwide feature-film production, marketing and distribution activities. From 1989 to 1992, Chernin was president of entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company, while programming grew from two to seven nights a week during that span.[12]

It was rumored in the media that Chernin was going to leave his position at News Corp. by June 2009, when his contract expired, and that he would be replaced in the position by media executive James Murdoch, youngest son of Rupert Murdoch.[13] On February 24, 2009, the Wall Street Journal reported that Peter Chernin made the decision to leave News Corporation after 20 years, to pursue independent entrepreneurial ventures. On June 4, 2009 Chase Carey was named Chernin's successor at his position.[14]

Chernin was approached in October 2010 by the Tribune Company to be either CEO or chairman of the board.[15] There was also media speculation about Chernin's having a role in Yahoo!'s future after Carol Bartz's abrupt departure in September 2011.[16] At the All Things Digital's AsiaD Conference[17] in Hong Kong on October 20, 2011, Chernin dismissed that he was interested in pursuing opportunities with the company.[18]

TCG

Since his departure from News Corp. in 2009, Chernin has been the chairman of his own company, The Chernin Group (TCG). TCG's current assets include Chernin Entertainment, an entertainment production company; a majority stake in CA Media, an Asia-based media investment company; and several strategic investments in U.S. based technology and media companies including Pandora, Fullscreen, Tumblr, Barstool Sports, and Flipboard.[19]

The company's first feature film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was released in August 2011.[20] and has grossed more than $480 million at the worldwide box office.[21][22] Chernin Entertainment produced Parental Guidance, a comedy starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler, which was released in December 2012,[23] the sci-fi thriller from Joseph Kosinski, Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise,[24] and The Heat, starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock.[25]

TCG launched CA Media in November 2010,[26] which aims to strategically build, manage, and operate media, entertainment, and technology businesses in Asia. In July 2011, CA Media invested in the Hong Kong-based mixed martial arts promoter Legend Fighting Championship.[27] In April 2012, CA Media acquired a 49 percent stake in Endemol India with the goal of making it the leading TV, film and digital content production company in India.[28] At the same time CA Media also invested in Only Much Louder, a music, live events and youth media company in India.[29] In April 2014, AT&T partnered with The Chernin Group to invest $500 million in online video services.[30]

In April 2012, Chernin sold a minority stake of TCG to strategic investment partners Providence Equity Partners, a leading private equity firm, and other private investors.[31][32]

In April 2013, Chernin made a bid of around $500 million for Hulu, an online video streaming service.[33] TCG is listed as an investor in Tumblr, which WSJ.com reported on May 19, 2013 would be sold to Yahoo for US$1.1 Billion. On December 2, 2013, TCG announced that they had acquired the anime streaming site Crunchyroll in an effort to expand their online video assets. The acquisition was rumoured to priced at around $100 million.[34] On January 7, 2016 it was announced by David Portnoy in a video that Chernin Media was acquiring a majority stake in the popular website Barstool Sports and moving the headquarters to New York City.

In 2018, Chernin, Jesse Jacobs, and Michael Kerns of The Chernin Group formed TCG Capital Management, an investment advisory firm. TCG manages private equity investments in the media, entertainment, technology, sports and consumer sectors.[35]

Boards

Chernin sits on the Boards of American Express, serves as a Co-Chair of University of California, Berkeley's Board of Visitors,[36] and is a senior advisor to Providence Equity Partners.[37] He is also chairman and co-founder of Malaria No More[38] and a trustee of Malaria No More UK, non-profits dedicated to ending deaths due to malaria. He previously served on the boards of Twitter,[39] Pandora,[40] News Corp, DirecTV,[41] E-Trade,[42] and Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Personal life

Chernin married Megan (née Brody) in 1980.[6] He is ethnically Jewish.

Politics

Chernin has donated over $100,000 to the Democratic Party, candidates & associated organizations, as well as hosting Barack Obama at his home for a fundraiser in 2013.[43][44] He also supported Hillary Clinton in the run-up for the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[45]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2011Rise of the Planet of the Apesproducer
2012Parental Guidanceproducer
2013Oblivionproducer
The Heatproducer
2014Dawn of the Planet of the Apesproducer
The Dropproducer
St. Vincentproducer
Exodus: Gods and Kingsproducer
2015Spyproducer
2016Mike and Dave Need Wedding Datesproducer
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Childrenproducer
Hidden Figuresproducer
2017Snatchedproducer
War for the Planet of the Apesproducer
The Mountain Between Usproducer
The Greatest Showmanproducer
2018Red Sparrowproducer
2019Tolkienproducer
Ford v. Ferrariproducer
Spies in Disguiseproducer
2020Underwaterproducer
2021Fear Streetproducer

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009Family GuyGuest star/HimselfEpisode: "Fox-y Lady"
2011–2012Breakout Kingsexecutive producer
2011–2018New Girlexecutive producer
2011Terra Novaexecutive producer
2012–2013Touchexecutive producer
Ben and Kateexecutive producer
2019–presentSeeexecutive producer

References
  1. Arango, Tim (2009-10-19). "Chernin Reportedly Advising Comcast on NBC Universal Bid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  2. Cieply, Michael (2010-05-11). "For Chernin, an Empire of His Own". The New York Times.
  3. "Not the heir, apparently: Peter Chernin, number two at News Corporation, holds the key to a smooth Murdoch family succession". The Economist. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-10-09. Mr Murdoch may nevertheless try to bring James to America to fill Mr Chernin's job, or something close to it, in 2009.
  4. Siklos, Richard (2008-08-08). "The COO's dilemma: Peter Chernin, News Corp.'s No. 2, has a big job, a big paycheck, a big (and growing) profile - and a contract that's coming up for renewal". Fortune. Retrieved 2008-10-09. 'Rupert has always been very straightforward with me about this,' said Chernin, who's been at News Corp. for 20 years. 'And based on that, I think I would only have an opportunity to feel wronged if I had been given false promises, which I haven't.'
  5. Ovide, Shira (2009-02-24). "Peter Chernin to Leave Post as President of News Corp". Wall Street Journal.
  6. "Marriage Announcement 4 -- No Title". The New York Times. 1980-07-13.
  7. Joel Stein (December 29, 2008). "Who runs Hollywood?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  8. Hayes, Cynthia Littleton,Dade (2009-02-23). "Peter Chernin exits News Corp". Variety. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  9. Peter F. Chernin. "Peter Chernin: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek". Investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  10. "News Corp. President Is Leaving". The New York Times. 2009-02-24.
  11. "All Time Top 1000 Grossing Films: U.S. Domestic Ranks". MovieWeb.com. Archived from the original on 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  12. "Peter Chernin - News, Articles, Biography, Photos - WSJ.com". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15.
  13. Nikki Finke (2009-03-04). "Why You Leavin' (News Corp.), Peter Chernin? - Page 1 - News - Los Angeles". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  14. Ovide, Shira (2009-02-24). "Peter Chernin to Leave Post as President of News Corp". The Wall Street Journal.
  15. Tribune CEO Randy Michaels Steps Down (Finally), Jeff Bercovici, Forbes, October 23, 2010
  16. "Yahoo's next CEO? Meet the candidates". CNN.
  17. Latest Video (2011-10-20). "Chernin Group's Peter Chernin, Live at AsiaD - John Paczkowski - AsiaD". AllThingsD. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  18. "Former News Corp. Exec Peter Chernin Enters Yahoo Scenarios - Kara Swisher - News". AllThingsD. 2010-11-17. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  19. Marich, Robert; Weiss, Michelle; Peters, Jenny; Morfoot, Addie (2011-10-10). "New execs in the click, coin & praiser pack". Variety.
  20. James, Meg; Chmielewski, Dawn C. (2011-07-26). "Hollywood awaits how Peter Chernin will fare with new venture". Los Angeles Times.
  21. Corliss, Richard (2011-08-04). "Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Chimpan-tastic!". Time.
  22. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  23. Fernandez, Jay (2011-10-27). "The State of the Studio Deals: Who's Doing What Where". The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. Fleming, Mike. "Peter Chernin And Dylan Clark Board Tom Cruise-Starrer 'Oblivion' As Producers". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  25. Sneider, Jeff; Abrams, Rachel (2012-05-19). "Bullock, McCarthy tapped for cop pic". Variety.
  26. Schuker, Lauren A. E. (2010-11-08). "Chernin Unveils Asia Plan". The Wall Street Journal.
  27. Fixmer, Andy (2011-07-13). "Peter Chernin Purchases Stake in Hong Kong's Legend Fighting Championship". Bloomberg.
  28. Savage, Mike (2013-05-10). "Kamat: 'Content Is At The Epicenter'". Media Business Asia.
  29. Bhushan, Nyay (2012-04-26). "The Chernin Group's Asian arm also announced an investment in Indian youth media and music events promoter Only Much Louder". The Wrap.
  30. Savage, Mike (2014-05-12). "Chernin Outlines SVOD Gameplan". Media Business Asia.
  31. Cieply, Michael (2012-04-23). "A Hit Maker Bets Future Earnings on an Expansion Plan". The New York Times.
  32. Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (2012-04-23). "Chernin Group secures $200m in private equity". Financial Times.
  33. Ronald Grover and Jennifer Saba (5 April 2013). "Former News Corp President Chernin bids $500 million for Hulu". Reuters.
  34. Glover, Ronald (2013-12-02). "Chernin buys anime site Crunchyroll to expand online video assets". Reuters.
  35. "Peter Chernin's TCG Investment Firm Closes $700 Million Fund". Variety. November 7, 2019.
  36. "Board of Visitors | Office of the Chancellor". chancellor.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  37. "Team List | Providence Equity". www.provequity.com. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  38. "Board - Malaria No More". Malaria No More. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  39. Lieberman, David (2016-04-08). "Peter Chernin Leaves Twitter Board As It Looks To Become More Diverse". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  40. "Pandora Media, Inc. - 8-K Form, July 20, 2016" (PDF). Pandora. July 20, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  41. "DirecTV CEO off News Corp. board". The Denver Post. 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  42. Friedman, Josh (2003-04-09). "E-Trade Expands Board of Directors". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  43. Daniels, Saul (2012-05-07). "Obama Coming to L.A. June 7 on a Fundraising Trip". Santa Monica Patch.
  44. "OpenSecret.org Donor Search for Peter Chernin".
  45. Johnson, T., Clinton vs. Trump in Hollywood: Who’s Giving, Variety, October 7, 2016.
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