July 07, 2008 08:30 AM Eastern Time 

Bryan Perez Named Senior Vice President and General Manager of NBA Digital

ATLANTA & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bryan Perez has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president and general manager for NBA Digital, it was announced today by David Levy, president of Turner Sports, and Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner and COO of the National Basketball Association. Earlier this year, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and the NBA announced a ground-breaking expansion of their long-running partnership, through which the companies will jointly manage a portfolio of the NBA’s digital businesses that Turner will operate out of its Atlanta production facility.

In his new role, Perez will oversee all day-to-day operations for NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour digital television network, NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBADLeague.com, NBA League Pass, as well as the league’s broadband and wireless businesses. He will provide leadership for all aspects of the business, including programming, operations, editorial, ecommerce and marketing. Perez, who will assume his new role in mid-July, will be based in Atlanta and report directly to Levy and Silver.

“Bryan’s professional credentials are extensive, diverse and impressive and he will bring great creative energy and smart business sense to his new role,” said Levy. “Bryan’s impressive track record of experience and leadership has helped build the growth of several sports and entertainment organizations. He brings vast experience within the digital arena and I am confident with Bryan as its head we will successfully grow NBA Digital among our key constituents.”

“Bryan's experience and proven track record make him the perfect leader for our new venture,” said Silver. “With our full suite of digital and television assets combined with the scale, expertise and resources of Turner Broadcasting, NBA Digital is poised to deliver a revolutionary experience to our fans.”

“I am thrilled to lead this new endeavor, backed by the world-class assets and resources of Turner and the NBA,” said Perez. “The cross-platform opportunities of NBA TV and the league’s online properties together with Turner’s deep digital programming expertise and best-in-class production will enable us to drive great innovation for NBA fans, delivering content anytime, anywhere and any way they prefer it. In addition, this platform and partnership will allow us to create exciting new revenue opportunities for both partners.”

Perez’s extensive and diverse professional background includes most recently serving as CEO of Live Nation’s Global Digital division. In this position, Perez established and built the new division and was responsible for the company’s worldwide internet, wireless, ticketing, and IT strategy and operations.

Perez also previously worked as executive vice president of strategy and business development for Clear Channel Entertainment. Before joining Clear Channel, Perez was executive vice president of Marketing and Communications for the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars, where he oversaw all ticket sales, new media, marketing and broadcasting efforts for the team. Preceding that tenure, he was an executive vice president of Business Development for the predecessor of Hicks Sports Group, where he was responsible for business development, broadcasting and new media for all of its entities. Perez also served as the director of Business Development for Madison Square Garden.

Perez earned a bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He also earned his juris doctor degree and MBA from Stanford University.

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2007-08 season, the NBA distributed games and programming to 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league’s worldwide reach can also be seen with 76 international players from 31 countries and territories on NBA rosters. As fans witness tremendous performances on the court, some of the NBA’s most significant efforts occur off the court. NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on its long tradition of addressing important social issues in the U.S. and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include: CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNN International and CNN.com; TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, truTV, Peachtree TV and Turner Sports; Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim.