MICHAEL JAY SOLOMON
Michael Jay Solomon began his career in film distribution by loading films onto trucks for United Artists at the age of 18 in 1956. He joined United Artists’ International Division in 1959 and by 1960 was selling theatrical films from Panama to Central America and later Bogota, Colombia. At age 24 he headed up United Artists’ office in Lima, Peru. In 1964, he started up MCA’s Latin American Television Division while based in Mexico and later Brazil. By age 30, Mr. Solomon became MCA’s youngest vice president, and eventually had international responsibilities.
In 1978, after eight years with United Artists and fourteen years with MCA, he co-founded Telepictures Corporation, which went on to become the largest U.S. television syndication company (they created TV syndication) and one of the largest international television distribution companies, as well as the owner and operator of six television stations in the U.S. Telepictures became a public company (NASDAQ) after only 14 months under the leadership of Mr. Solomon as Chairman and CEO.
In 1985, when Telepictures merged with Lorimar to form Lorimar Telepictures Corp. (American Stock Exchange), he became the new company’s President and served on its Board of Directors. Mr. Solomon, with his partners, led Lorimar Telepictures to become the largest television production and distribution company in the world, producing TV series such as Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knot’s Landing and many more.
In 1989, when Lorimar Telepictures was acquired by Warner Bros., Mr. Solomon became President of Warner Bros. International Television, heading up the company’s sales and marketing to television, cable and satellite companies internationally. Under his leadership, Warner Bros. became the largest (by 2.5 times) TV program distribution company in the world. He was also responsible for investments in the telecommunications area internationally. He is a co-founder of HBO OLE, the leading pay-TV service in Latin America, and opened the door to Western programming in China, Russia, India and many more third-world countries. He was the first international distributor of The Grammys, MTV and “E” Entertainment Channel, and is a Founder of the American Film Market Association.
Following a five-year tenure at Warner Bros. in which he increased international television revenues more than 400 percent and built a lasting international structure, Mr. Solomon left in April 1994 to launch his own television communications company, Solomon Entertainment Enterprises. He distributed independent TV product to the international market and formed a partnership with Canal Plus (France) and UFA (Germany) to produce TV movies.
For three years he created El Camino Entertainment Group, Inc. (now called Stone Canyon), the largest Midway operating company in North America, by consolidating six of the most important family-run companies in the U.S. and Canada, consisting of rides, food and games, serving state and county fairs. This business was bought out by a large investment fund.
He co-founded SMGBB (Shanghai Media Group Broadband) which streams Chinese language broadcast networks from China onto the internet, throughout China and outside of China. This is an exclusive contract with Shanghai Media Group for the next ten years. Thus far, twenty channels have been launched in China and nine outside of China.
Mr. Solomon is a founding Chairman and one-third equity owner of DreamStream, LLC. DreamStream is the sole proprietor of the European Encryption Solution, a unique and unpublished, military-strength 2,048-bit encryption algorithm. Using this state-of-the-art technology, DreamStream provides custom security solutions for a wide array of critical business applications. It develops these security solutions for third parties, but also applies its own system to DreamStream branded products like DreamStream Studio, a secure delivery solution for the motion picture and video industry.
He is founding Chairman of HD Red, which has developed a technology based on Red Laser, to deliver true High Definition DVD’s at an affordable price to the consumer. Their set top box will also have other applications that will incentivize the consumer. They will launch in Europe by the end of 2009.
He is also Chairman of Anthem Digital, a global media and technology company creating and distributing content, video games and social networks through current and future mediums. Anthem’s companies include: Anthem Pictures, the production, acquisitions and distribution arm; Anthem Interactive (Ai), the video game development division; Eon Syndication, the virtual television network; and Sketchpad Studios, the in-house advertising and marketing division.
In addition, the Anthem Channel will launch on DirecTV and the Dish Network by the end of 2009, and will focus 24/7 on health and wellness. Mr. Solomon is Co-Chairman of the Channel with David Murdock (Dole Foods).
Solomon has just been elected to the board of Getfugu (OTCBB:GFGU), which is set to launch in Fall 2009. Phones with Getfugu installed will provide consumers with a completely new experience in web browsing and e-commerce. Offering four unique services – See it (ARL), Find it (GRL) and Get it (Hot-Spotting), Getfugu offers the simplest and most convenient means to get the information you need and make the purchases you need right from the palm of your hand.
He has just formed a new company with his son, Christian. Film Domain is a worldwide distribution company that will aggregate and acquire content by providing its owner/licensor significant financial and organizational benefits. Revenues come from fees generated through the sale and licensing of its catalogue of digital files, backed by a “state of the art” rights management system, and a technologically advanced method of digital file distribution, designed for today and tomorrow’s delivery systems.
Mr. Solomon serves on the Board of Overseers of New York University’s Stern School of Business (twenty years), is a Founder of The Sam Spiegel Film & Television School in Jerusalem, and was Founding Chairman of The Jerusalem Foundation of the West Coast of the United States. He was educated at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Boston’s Emerson College, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree.
