Lloyd Braun (media executive)
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Braun is a television and Internet media executive who currently runs the entertainment firm BermanBraun.
in 1980, and his law degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1983. He served on the Vassar Board of Trustees, his seat having expired in 2010.
Prior to becoming a television executive, Braun practiced entertainment law for 10 years, representing several high profile clients such as Larry David
, Howard Stern
and David Chase
.
The character Lloyd Braun on the sitcom Seinfeld
was named after him, since the media executive served as the lawyer of Larry David.
for their idea for the show The Sopranos
. He went on to serve as the Chairman of the ABC
Entertainment Group from 2002 to 2004. Braun was forced out of his position at ABC shortly after greenlighting the $13 million pilot
to the television show Lost
, one of the most expensive in modern broadcasting. His decision was vindicated, however, when the show went on to become a huge success. Braun and his partner, Susan Lyne, also greenlit other ABC shows that went on to great success in the years following his dismissal, including Desperate Housewives
, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Boston Legal
and Grey's Anatomy
. These shows began an unprecedented turnaround for ABC.
to run Yahoo! Media Group, the company's content division. While at Yahoo!, Braun initiated and oversaw the development of the highly successful celebrity site OMG! Braun also developed the daily video show "The 9" and oversaw major redesigns of Yahoo!'s media sites. Braun resigned from Yahoo! in December 2006 to partner with Gail Berman to form the entertainment company BermanBraun.
BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with NBC
to create television programming for which NBC would have a first look. In July 2007, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Pepsi
to create original online programming for which Pepsi would have a first look to sponsor. In 2009, BermanBraun launched the hit site WONDERWALL, a celebrity news destination for MSN. In 2010, BermanBraun launched the hit woman's lifestyle site GLO, in partnership with Hachette and MSN. in 2010, BermanBraun also launched the sites WONDERWALL LATINO and BLTWY, the celebrity side of politics.
BermanBraun produces the hit series IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM for MTV and SWORDS for Discovery. BermanBraun also produces DECODED for History Channel and THE CAPE for NBC.
In 2010, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Publicis and Starcom Mediavest Group to provide SMG with a first look to advertise on all of its digital properties.
Early life and career
Braun earned his B.A. from Vassar CollegeVassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1980, and his law degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1983. He served on the Vassar Board of Trustees, his seat having expired in 2010.
Prior to becoming a television executive, Braun practiced entertainment law for 10 years, representing several high profile clients such as Larry David
Larry David
Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
, Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
and David Chase
David Chase
David Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
.
The character Lloyd Braun on the sitcom Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
was named after him, since the media executive served as the lawyer of Larry David.
American Broadcasting Company
Braun's first major success came with producer David ChaseDavid Chase
David Chase is an American writer, director, and producer of television series. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown,...
for their idea for the show The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. He went on to serve as the Chairman of the ABC
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...
Entertainment Group from 2002 to 2004. Braun was forced out of his position at ABC shortly after greenlighting the $13 million pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
to the television show Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
, one of the most expensive in modern broadcasting. His decision was vindicated, however, when the show went on to become a huge success. Braun and his partner, Susan Lyne, also greenlit other ABC shows that went on to great success in the years following his dismissal, including Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
and Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. These shows began an unprecedented turnaround for ABC.
Yahoo! Media Group and BermanBraun
In November 2004, Braun joined Yahoo!Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
to run Yahoo! Media Group, the company's content division. While at Yahoo!, Braun initiated and oversaw the development of the highly successful celebrity site OMG! Braun also developed the daily video show "The 9" and oversaw major redesigns of Yahoo!'s media sites. Braun resigned from Yahoo! in December 2006 to partner with Gail Berman to form the entertainment company BermanBraun.
BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
to create television programming for which NBC would have a first look. In July 2007, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Pepsi
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
to create original online programming for which Pepsi would have a first look to sponsor. In 2009, BermanBraun launched the hit site WONDERWALL, a celebrity news destination for MSN. In 2010, BermanBraun launched the hit woman's lifestyle site GLO, in partnership with Hachette and MSN. in 2010, BermanBraun also launched the sites WONDERWALL LATINO and BLTWY, the celebrity side of politics.
BermanBraun produces the hit series IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM for MTV and SWORDS for Discovery. BermanBraun also produces DECODED for History Channel and THE CAPE for NBC.
In 2010, BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with Publicis and Starcom Mediavest Group to provide SMG with a first look to advertise on all of its digital properties.
External links
- Lloyd Braun at LostpediaLostpediaLostpedia is a wiki-powered online encyclopedia of information regarding the American television drama Lost. Launched on September 22, 2005 by Kevin Croy, the site uses MediaWiki software to maintain a user-created database of information...