NBC Sports has lured Ron Wechsler away from ESPN to be its Vice President, Original Programming & Development. He’ll be responsible for creating original programming for the entire NBC Sports Group.
Ron developed original content for both television and ESPN.com while with the Worldwide Leader including ESPNU Road Trip, the web series Mayne Street starring Kenny Mayne, and helping to acquire and produce SportScience for ESPN. He also was part of ESPN’s scripted films including 3, Ruffian and Code Breakers.
Ron will begin his NBC Sports duties immediately and work from the company’s 30 Rockefeller Center, New York City headquarters.
We have the NBC announcement for you.
RON WECHSLER NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING, NBC SPORTS NETWORK
NEW YORK – February 9, 2012 – Ron Wechsler has been named Vice President, Original Programming & Development, NBC Sports Network, effective immediately. He is based out of the NBC Sports Group corporate offices at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, and will report to Jon Miller, President of Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network.
In this role, Wechsler, a former ESPN executive, will create original programming and branded entertainment for the new NBC Sports Network.
“Ron has a rich history of relationships with key marketers and brands in our business,” said Miller. “He brings a wealth of experience, creativity and innovative ideas, and we are excited to have him head our original programming division as we grow the NBC Sports Network.”
Wechsler joins the NBC Sports Group from ESPN where he was Vice President, series development & production, in the ESPN Content Development unit, and his responsibilities included ESPN’s development, acquisition and production of scripted films, scripted series, nonscripted series, feature length documentaries, branded entertainment, and digital media.
Most recently, Wechsler developed content for the ESPNU network. He oversaw the docu-series ESPNU Road Trip and The Battle, and helped oversee the SEC signature documentary series SEC: Storied. Wechsler also oversaw the branded entertainment concept The Next Round, served up by Jim Beam, creating a new paradigm for co-branded initiatives at ESPN. Prior to that, Wechsler acquired and oversaw the Emmy Award-winning series Sport Science.
In 2008, Wechsler implemented the ESPN Original Digital brand and its popular series Mayne Street, starring Kenny Mayne. Accruing 20M total hits, the series was nominated for multiple Webby Awards, and won two Cable Fax Awards.
From 2003-2008, Wechsler was the primary on-set production executive for the ESPN Original Entertainment films 3, Four Minutes, Through The Fire, Ruffian, and Code Breakers. Wechsler also served as ESPN’s on-set production executive of both scripted and unscripted Original Entertainment series. He was the primary production and acquisition executive for The Contender and Tilt, and was a member of the core development and production team for Playmakers and The Bronx Is Burning.
Before joining ESPN, Wechsler held top positions at several film production businesses including Vice President, production and development of Jersey Films and president of Panoptic Pictures from 1999-2000. Wechsler broke into the film industry as an independent producer from 1997-1999. During this time he produced Little City and The House of Yes, both by Miramax Films.
Wechsler attended graduate school at Syracuse University, where he received a Master’s Degree in radio, television and film in 1993. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Albany, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1992.
That will do it.
