Biography
Thomas Marino Currá (Tommy), President & Executive Producer of Knotty Oak Studios. In 2004 he joined WVIA Public Media, when presented the opportunity to combine his love for storytelling with his enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. Currá upgrade the studio's equipment, hired a seasoned production crew and implemented innovative strategies to help differentiate the regional station in today's vast media landscape. He created Via Studios Global (VSG). Under his leadership, VSG developed a reputation for exceptional creative development and detailed production management and distribution services. The production team created a remarkable range of content from an IMAX giant screen film to television, radio and internet-based content. With over 40 feature documentary film credits, the team's well-practiced storytelling approach to producing national and international content has been acclaimed through both national distribution and national awards. The VSG team has been awarded two Cine Golden Eagle Awards, four EMMY Awards and nine EMMY nominations from the Mid-Atlantic chapter. In 2019, Via Public Media Studios became the only Pennsylvania Certified Production and Post Production facility in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
From 2013 to 2019 Currá was President, CEO and Executive Producer of WVIA Public Media. Currá, who oversaw substantial growth in WVIA public radio and television's finances and programming.
In 2016, Currá led negotiations that resulted in a channel sharing agreement with WNEP. As part of that deal, the Federal Communication Commission auctioned off airwaves netting WVIA almost $26MM. The money went into the station's endowment, which previously had totaled only about $1MM before his efforts.
Currá had a unique background for President, CEO and executive producer at a public media establishment. For 20 years, he acquired a depth of knowledge in remote television production providing technical services to network (CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, TBS, and HBO) sporting events around the United States.
Tommy's extensive resume also includes acquired strategic business knowledge of the media industry through managerial training at The New York Times Company. In 1992 he became founding manager of operations and executive producer of NYT Video Productions, Inc. (NYT), a division of the New York Times Company. In 1998, Thomas represented the United States at the International Content Market for Interactive Media (MILIA) in Cannes, France, where his model for an interactive television series, Studio Beyond, was presented to an international audience of television and online producers.
