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Dick Askin
Dick Askin (Los Angeles, CA) is the Chairman and CEO of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Askin has amassed an impressive track record as a prominent television executive and manager, with a solid track record of building production, distribution, marketing and creative operations in all areas of television. His is a career exemplified by an ability to combine solid business acumen with strong creative instincts. These skills manifest themselves in both his high-level corporate positions as well as his significant contributions in the non-profit arena.
He was named the president and CEO of Hollywood-based Tribune Entertainment Company in January 1996, where he had overall responsibility for development, production and distribution activities, both domestically and internationally.
Mr. Askin’s mission at Tribune was to add significant value to the company by creating a diverse program portfolio for distribution in syndication and cable, a goal he accomplished with significant success. Specifically, he built Tribune Entertainment into a profitable, robust operation that yielded more than 20 series, specials and movie packages.
In particular, Mr. Askin has been credited with creating the very successful action hour format for syndicated television. These long-running, Emmy-nominated programs were consistently among the top performing hour-long programs in syndication.
Furthermore, by creating strategic partnerships with international partners, Mr. Askin was able to secure more than $300 million in funding for co-productions and distribution globally, giving Tribune Entertainment a strong presence overseas as well as in the U.S.
At Tribune Entertainment he successfully guided the original series Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda, Gene Roddenberry’s Earth Final Conflict, and others. Mr. Askin also secured distribution rights to such hits as South Park, Family Feud and American Idol Rewind, the highest rated new syndicated series to debut in the fall of 2006. Equally important, Mr. Askin secured long-term distribution rights to the entire output of DreamWorks Pictures, including such blockbuster and Oscar-winning hits as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Gladiator,” “American Beauty” and “The War of the Worlds.”
In addition, Mr. Askin oversaw the restoration and re-design of the historic Tribune Studios in Hollywood, where the company renovated Tribune’s KTLA Studio and converted its soundstages to full digital capabilities, making it the first all-digital studio lot in the U.S. The studio has become one of the most successful production locations in Hollywood.
Prior to joining Tribune Entertainment, Mr. Askin was president of Samuel Goldwyn Television. He joined Goldwyn in 1987 transforming what had been a dormant production operation into an active, successful division providing hits shows for the syndication, network and cable areas. Mr. Askin was the guiding force in the development and distribution of American Gladiators, a long-running bona fide cultural phenomenon that helped create the template for reality competition programming. The show’s format was sold into 60 international territories.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Askin spent several years in sales management positions at NBC’s stations division before moving to the Fries Distribution Company, where he rose quickly through the ranks, ultimately being promoted in 1986 to Senior Vice President, Distribution.
Mr. Askin has made a mark as well in the non-profit sector, most notably his current tenure at the helm of the prestigious Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). He is currently in his second term as chairman and CEO of the Academy.
His accomplishments there are many, such as spearheading a comprehensive review of the televised Primetime Emmy telecast that resulted in a more diverse slate of nominated shows and individuals. These rule changes were credited with contributing significantly to significant increases in ratings. Mr. Askin’s other accomplishments as TV Academy chairman and CEO include securing a long-sought rapprochement with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the strategic acquisition of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Mr. Askin also serves as a trustee of the American Film Institute (AFI), is on the Board of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society and is a trustee of the Entertainment Industries Council. He is a past recipient of the Entertainment Industries Council’s Larry Stewart Leadership and Inspiration award.
A native of Massapequa, NY, he holds a B.A. in economics from Rutgers College, an M.A. in communications from the University of Texas, where he was awarded with the Alcoa Graduate Fellowship, and an M.B.A. from Fordham University.