Michael Winter Email & Phone Number

BrandLink Creative (BLC) connects production companies and content creators with strategic brand partnerships. Our team of experienced producers excels in creating impactful integrations that secure funding and boost profitability. Leveraging extensive industry connections, we ensure projects gain wider marketability and faster green lights. Specializing in high-appeal genres, BLC offers a comprehensive approach, from identifying viable projects to securing placement on leading FAST and VOD platforms. Led by industry veterans, we transform how production companies achieve success in the dynamic media landscape.

Creative lead for original unscripted programming, development, and production; senior creative executive leadership for business development, ad sales, marketing, AVOD and FAST curation and OTT growth.• Key creative executive on the launch team of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment during growth period to attract $100+ million investment, completing successful Reg-A IPO and major acquisitions of distribution company Screen Media Ventures and top ten AVOD service Crackle (joint venture with Sony).• Executive producer of all nonfiction original programming including series for Netflix, CW, A&E, Discovery networks, and five seasons of HIDDEN HEROES on CBS, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Family Viewing Series.• Conceive and sell programming partnerships, integrations, and sponsorships for branded content, building bespoke custom packages to address business goals and maximize ROI in terms of investment and viewership. Directly manage services for clients including Chegg, Air BnB, State Farm, Acorns, Verizon, Pet Smart, Lyft and many more.• Generated over $30 million of brand integrations into linear and digital content, driving creative innovation for authentic and engaging sponsored content with quantifiable ROI.• Launch team for new Chicken Soup for the Soul AVOD service, defining brand strategy, targeting and managing growth partnerships. Tasked with creating original programming slate with 3rd party platforms and brand partners, curating programming acquisitions while negotiating license windows and revenue splits.

Independent executive producer hired to create content strategy, develop concepts, and produce programming for diverse clients, including Scripps Networks Interactive, AETN, Bravo, Original Media, Big Fish, and Jupiter Entertainment. Managed production staff and budgets.

London, Gb

Recruited by production company to lead development and ongoing series for cable networks including HGTV, DIY, Travel Channel, A&E, Food Network, The Weather Channel, GSN, History, Speed, and Ovation. Projects generated $40M in multiyear programming budgets. Reported to President and CEO.▪ Developed series for distribution across broadcast, cable, streaming, and OTT platforms.▪ Branded partners included La-Z-Boy, Best Buy, Disney Cruise Lines, Black+Decker, Home Depot, and Pinterest.Key projects:HGTV/DIY: HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL, MAN CAVES, MOM CAVES, HIDDEN POTENTIAL, DEAR GENEVIEVE (starring Genevieve Gorder), OFF THE GRID, THE FLIP QUEENS, LOS PROPERTY HERMANOS Travel Channel: BEACH BROKERS, TOP SPOT, CULTURE SHOCK, RENTERS FROM HELL, BRET MICHAELS PROJECTA&E: DISASTER GUY, GUESS WHO’S MOVING IN, MAX ERFood Network: RESTAURANT DIVIDED, WEDDING HUNTERSCNBC: FIELD GUIDE TO THE FILTHY RICH The Weather Channel: FISHY BUSINESS, RAIL DOGS History: 6 DEGREES OF RIVESSpeed: PUMPED (game show)Ovation: IMAGINATION UNLEASHED (developed in partnership with Bombay Sapphire and Russell Simmons)

As SNI transitioned into a rated environment, recruited to expand audiences by creating and managing a slate of original programming distributed across linear and digital platforms for HGTV and DIY.• Creative lead behind 30+ series and specials Including MAN CAVES (14 seasons), RENOVATION REALITIES (10 seasons), DESPERATE LANDSCAPES, KING OF DIRT, and the first linear-digital tentpole event series, BLOG CABIN (10 seasons).• Conceptualized and developed MAN CAVES, including partnerships all major sports leagues, A-list celebrities, and the USO to produce special “Troop Cave” episode at Camp Virginia in Kuwait.• Partnered with DirecTV on 3 Super Bowl live events and a programming initiative with the DAN PATRICK SHOW.• Developed RENOVATION REALITIES (250 episodes), SNI’s first follow docuseries, changing the course of SNI programming.• Additional series included CREATIVE JUICE (Scripps’ first Emmy nomination), UNDER CONSTRUCTION, YARD CRASHERS, BATHTASTIC, THE KING OF DIRT, and DESPERATE LANDSCAPES.• Developed and implemented partnership with THE TODAY SHOW on AMERICA’S MOST DESPERATE LANDSCAPE programming stunt and event (3 seasons)• Brand partners included DirecTV, La-Z-Boy, Best Buy, Disney Cruise Lines, Walt Disney World, Lumber Liquidators, Black+Decker, Andersen Windows, Moen, Home Depot, and many more.• HGTV grew from 80M to +95M U.S. households and DIY grew from <40M to 53M households, leading to Discovery Networks acquisition.

Stamford , Ct, Us

Hired to launch an original programming slate for Comcast’s Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Managed series budgets from $1.5M to +$4M. Oversaw relationships with production companies and major sports leagues. Reported to the SVP of Programming and Production. Network was rebranded as Versus in 2006, acquired by Comcast, then NBC Sports Network in 2012.▪ Developed and executive-produced +20 original series and specials with brand partners.▪ Developed 2 of the first wholly branded primetime series: A.W.E (Air. Water. Earth.), in partnership with Red Bull and Bombardier, and PARK RAVING MAD with Ford. This model was adopted across OLN programming and sister Comcast networks, including E! and Esquire.▪ Nominated for a Sports Emmy (Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology) for FEARLESS docuseries featuring Mario Lemieux, Tyler Hamilton, Greg LeMond, Pat Tillman, Ty Murray, and Jeb Corliss as well as Bodacious, “The World’s Most Dangerous Bull.”▪ Other brand partners included Ford, Cabela’s, Patagonia, Smith & Wesson, and Shimano.▪ Produced ALL-STAR BBQ SHOWDOWN (TV’s first major BBQ competition series), WANTED: TED OR ALIVE (starring Ted Nugent), E-FORCE, SHARK HUNTERS: ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT SERIES, OUTDOOR INVESTIGATIONS, COUNTDOWN, and ROCK THE BOAT.▪ Created and produced short-form programming to support marketing efforts for major sporting events, including the Tour de France, NHL (regular season and playoffs), America’s Cup, NCAA Football (Mountain West), and the Iditarod.▪ Programming elevated Nielsen average ratings from .10 to .30. During these years, the network grew from 54M to +75M subscribers.

Glendale, California, Us

Produced episodic programming for this production company and unscripted series pioneer.Key projects:▪ Segment Producer for ROAD RULES (MTV, 2 seasons). Cast Rainn Wilson as “The Road Master” 5 years before THE OFFICE. Series won a Genesis Award in 2000 (Television – Reality Programming) and was nominated in 2001 for a Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Nonfiction Program). Created co-branded segments with advertisers, including Nokia, Polaroid, and Winnebago.▪ Segment Producer for THE REAL WORLD: NEW ORLEANS (MTV). Series was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2000.▪ Senior Segment producer for LOVE CRUISE: THE MAIDEN VOYAGE (FOX).▪ Developed LOST IN AMERICA (The WB) and THE SIMPLE LIFE (FOX).