Kay Koplovitz is a groundbreaking leader in the television and media industry. She is the founder of USA Network and the first woman in history to head a television network. She is also the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the dual revenue streams of licensing and advertising. She was the Chairperson and CEO of USA Network until the company was sold for $4.5 billion in 1998. In 1992, she launched the Syfy Channel, which became a top ten rated cable network known for innovative drama and mini-series.
Koplovitz during the early years at USA Network
Koplovitz has also figured as a major pioneer in sports television. She launched major professional and collegiate sports on cable television by negotiating the first contracts for cable coverage of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the US Tennis Open. Under her leadership, the USA Network reached first place in cable prime time ratings, where it remained for 14 years.
A very significant focus now for Koplovitz is helping advance the companies and careers of women entrepreneurs. She is the Chair of Springboard Enterprises, the premier platform for women entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts dedicated to building scalable, sustainable women-led companies.
In 1998, President Clinton appointed Koplovitz to chair the bipartisan National Women’s Business Council. She used this platform to launch Springboard Enterprises, in a move to get women entrepreneurs to “think big” about their growth companies and to raise venture capital to fund them.
As one of today’s leading women in business, Koplovitz has penned, Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. In February 2015 she introduced and edited, Been There, Run That, an anthology of best practices from Springboard entrepreneurs who have “been there, run that.” She is a sought after speaker and commentator on subjects ranging from women’s leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, capital formation, creating a human capital ecosystem, to emerging media and management, and corporate board governance.
UBS conference, “Revitalizing America, The Road to Sustainable Growth” (in picture L to R) Jacqueline Novogratz, President Bill Clinton, Kay Koplovitz, David Gergen, President George W. Bush.
Koplovitz currently serves on the Boards of Ion Media Networks and Veniam; she previously chaired Liz Claiborne (later Kate Spade); and served on several major company boards, including the boards of CA Technologies, Time Inc, Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet, and General RE. She also has been a long-term trustee for The International Tennis Hall of Fame and trustee (currently emeritus) of The Paley Center for Media. In 2017, she was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
Koplovitz participated in The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards, 2019 on May 10, 2019. She spoke on the “Women & Power” panel alongside former Congresswoman Mia Love, Alessandra Stanley, and Sally Quinn, moderated by Juju Chang. She also serves as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.
Selected Media:
Build a Ninja Network and Stop Apologizing - How to Be a Master DealmakHER, Forbes article highlighting Koplovitz, 2021
Female Dealmakers Share Advice on the Art of Negotiation Women’s Wear Daily, 2021
Female Founders Reap Life-Long Benefits from Springboard programs Forbes, 2020
Cable Vision: Kay Koplovitz Sports Business Daily, 2018
USA Network's founder brings video to Third World, CNBC, 2014
Netflix is 'way ahead' of competition, says USA Network founder,interview with CNBC, 2019
Potential to Powerhouse: Success Secrets for Women Entrepreneurs, podcast interview 2021
Kay Koplovitz: TV Pioneer and Game Changer, Seneca's 100 Women to Hear, podcast interview 2021
Books:
Been There, Run That, edited and introduced by Koplovitz, 2014
Bold Women, Big Ideas, Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game 2011
