Biographie
Susan A. Banks is a television producer, screenwriter and award-winning marketer who has been hailed as "One of the Most Powerful Women in Cable" by CableFAX Magazine. Her credits spans both network and cable television including some of television's most popular, beloved and influential series. Over the course of her career, she has nurtured and maintained strategic relationships with producers, writers and talent, garnering industry awards and nominations, increasing network ratings and driving advertising sales.
Banks is co-creator, executive producer, screenwriter and executive in charge of production for TV One's horror anthology series: Fright Night Files premiered in October, 2014 and Fear Files premiered in March, 2015. Banks made her television screenwriting debut with the For the Love of Lockwood episode of the 2014 horror trilogy and wrote two episodes of the 2015 airing: For the Love of Lockwood Too and Mama's Boy. The Fright Night Files (2014) received four nominations for the 2015 Black Reel Awards including "Outstanding Supporting Actor" nods to Harry Lennix and Bokeem Woodbine and "Outstanding Directing" nominations for Russ Parr and R.L. Scott.
Most recently, Banks was executive producer and executive in charge of production for the jewel in the crown of TV One's line-up -- TV One On One with Cathy Hughes -- forty in-depth interviews with high profile Americans from the worlds of politics, culture and entertainment, from President Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton to Beyonce to Will Smith to Jamie Foxx to Minister Louis Farrakhan, the latter episode a recipient of a 2011 NAACP Image Award nomination.
Banks also executive produced and was executive in charge of production for a series of compelling, behind-the-scenes TV One specials including most recently: Twelve Years A Slave: A TV One Special (2013); TV One Takes The Trip To Bountiful (2013); D'Jango Unchained: A TV One Special (2012); TV One 5th Anniversary Special (2009); and The Living Single Reunion Show Special(2008). Twelve Years A Slave: A TV One Special was also a recipient of a 2014 Namic Vision Award "Outstanding Variety / Talk Show" nomination and a 2013 NAACP Image Award nomination. Banks also executive produced and was executive in charge of production for the popular TV One card game show Bid Whist Party Throwdown (2005-06).
As an adventurous, innovative marketer, Susan Banks has spearheaded some of the most successful branding campaigns in the business. Handpicked by former TV One CEO Johnathan Rodgers, Banks, as VP, Marketing and Creative Services, launched TV One in 2004 with the ground-breaking "I See Black People" campaign which instantly branded the lifestyle and entertainment cable network as "must see" television programming to adult African Americans. Banks played a key role in the unprecedented 40% growth in TV One's subscriber base in 2006, which, according to Nielsen, was more than any other cable network. She was named Executive VP, Marketing & Creative Services in 2007 and ultimately moved up to Executive VP / Special Projects for TV One in 2011.
Other marketing career highlights include leading the branding efforts behind daytime and children's programming for CBS Television, rated the #1 network in daytime for over two decades. Banks' strategic and groundbreaking marketing, promotional and advertising campaigns assured CBS' ratings dominance with The Price is Right, The Young and The Restless and The Bold and The Beautiful holding the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the daytime ratings for more than two decades, according to Nielsen.
At CBS, Banks received a 1989 Daytime Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Achievement in Graphics & Main Title Design" for The Young and The Restless and was honored with multiple Promax Awards for her innovative marketing initiatives. Banks also executive produced multiple episodes of the half-hour series CBS Soapbreak (1995-96), a behind-the-scenes close-up of some of the network's most iconic daytime stars including Eric Braeden, Lauralee Bell, Shemar Moore and Victoria Rowell, among others, the recipient of a 1996 Daytime Emmy Outstanding Directing - Special Class nomination. She also served as executive in charge of production and segment producer for the 29th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (2002), the 25th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1998) and the 20th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1993), respectively.
Susan A. Banks has received the following awards and distinctions: CableFAX Magazine's "Most Influential Minorities in Cable" (2011); CableFAX Magazine's "Most Powerful Women in Cable" (2010, 2009); Ebony Magazine's "Outstanding Women;" Promax Gold Award (2007; Promax Award (2009, 2008, 2007). Her branding and marketing campaigns at TV One and CBS Television have been recognized with numerous Promax Awards and multiple Telly Awards.
Born in Washington, DC, Banks holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications / Television Production from Emerson College and sits on the Alumni Board of Directors. She is also a member of The Producers Guild of America, ATAS and ASCAP.
