Daniel Burke (executive)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Burke was an American
television executive. With Capital Cities Chairman Tom Murphy
, Burke spearheaded the $3.5 billion acquisition of the American Broadcasting Company
in 1986 by Capital Cities, a much smaller company. Burke became President of ABC following the merger, running the daily operations of the television network
until his retirement in 1994. Burke and Murphy streamlined ABC's operations and made the network more profitable.
One of Burke's three sons, Steve, former head of Comcast
, has headed NBC Universal since 2010.
Originally from Albany, New York
, Burke served in the Korean War
, later earning his Bachelor's degree
from the University of Vermont
and his MBA from Harvard University
. He worked for General Foods in Albany for five years after leaving Harvard before joining Capital Cities. He retired as President of ABC in 1994. In 2011, the Los Angeles Times called Burke one of the "architects of the modern television industry."
and as director of Partnership for a Drug-Free America
. He founded a minor league baseball
team based in Portland, Maine
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television executive. With Capital Cities Chairman Tom Murphy
Thomas Murphy (broadcasting)
Thomas S. Murphy is an American broadcast executive, and was chair and chief executive officer of Capital Cities / ABC, Inc. until 1996. Together with fellow Capital Cities executive Daniel Burke, Murphy engineered the 1986 acquisition of the American Broadcasting Company in 1986 for $3.5 billion...
, Burke spearheaded the $3.5 billion acquisition of the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1986 by Capital Cities, a much smaller company. Burke became President of ABC following the merger, running the daily operations of the television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
until his retirement in 1994. Burke and Murphy streamlined ABC's operations and made the network more profitable.
One of Burke's three sons, Steve, former head of Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, has headed NBC Universal since 2010.
Originally from Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, Burke served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, later earning his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
and his MBA from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He worked for General Foods in Albany for five years after leaving Harvard before joining Capital Cities. He retired as President of ABC in 1994. In 2011, the Los Angeles Times called Burke one of the "architects of the modern television industry."
Philanthropy
His philanthropic efforts included serving as Chairman Emeritus of NewYork–Presbyterian HospitalNewYork–Presbyterian Hospital
NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital is a prominent university hospital in New York City affiliated with two Ivy League medical schools: Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and Cornell University's Weill Medical College. It is composed of two distinct medical centers, Columbia...
and as director of Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a non-profit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children...
. He founded a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.