Michael Fuchs
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
After gaining experience in entertainment law and a brief stint with the William Morris Agency, Fuchs joined HBO, initially heading up the sports and original programming divisions. Instrumental in raising the pioneering cable network to its position of pre-eminence through much of the 1980s, Fuchs held a variety of senior positions with the firm before catching hold of the quadruple reins of president, chief operating officer, chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1984. Highly experienced in programming, Fuchs diversified HBO's range of investments and productions despite occasional setbacks in pay-cable subscriptions nationwide, eventually leading the leading cable network into not only made-for-cable movies but also films made for theatrical release and regular series (including a sitcom which airs on the Fox network, "Roc"). He has also been involved in producing concerts for HBO featuring such performers as Diana Ross, Johnny Cash and Gladys Knight & the Pips and his range of authority extends as well into C- Span (the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network) and Comedy Central, an advertiser-supported network jointly owned by HBO and MTV.
Fuchs consolidated his position as the number two man at Time Warner in May 1995 when he was named chairman and CEO of the Warner Music Group. Once he assumed the position, Fuchs began a massive reorganization that saw the dismissal of several key executives (Warner Music US chairman Doug Morris, Morris' associate Mel Lewinter, and Warner Bros. Records chairman Danny Goldberg). In November 1995, Fuchs resigned under pressure.
Life Events
1971
Worked in entertainment law as an associate with the firm of Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison and Tucker in New York
1976
Joined Home Box Office (HBO) Inc. as director of special programming
1980
Promoted to senior vice president, programming, HBO
1982
Became executive vice president, programming, HBO
1983
Appointed president of the HBO Entertainment Group
1983
Named director of the executive committee for Tri-Star Pictures
1984
Received additional titles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer of HBO Inc. in October
1995
Named chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group in May
1995
Resigned (under pressure) from Time Warner
1996
Invested in Internet car-buying site, Auto-By-Tel
1999
Served as one of four executive producers of the HBO movie "A Lesson Before Dying"
Family
Companions
