Biography
Susan Rovner serves as Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she leads creative strategy for original entertainment content across NBCU's broadcast, cable and streaming platforms: NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock. Rovner reports to Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.
In her capacity as Chairman, Rovner oversees content teams tasked with development and current programming for scripted, unscripted, late night and specials. She also leads first-run syndication, which produces seven shows including the Emmy nominated "The Kelly Clarkson Show." As the head of content, Rovner manages key relationships with studio partners, both internal and external, as well as showrunners, producers and creative talent.
Prior to joining NBCU, Rovner was President of Warner Bros. Television (WBTV), the division of the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) which produces scripted dramatic primetime television programming for the five broadcast networks, premium/pay cable channels and on-demand/streaming platforms.
During her more than 20 years with WBTV, Rovner was instrumental in spearheading the company's creative expansion to develop series for on-demand/streaming services and increasing its output for premium and basic cable, while maintaining the studio's position as an industry leader in production for the broadcast marketplace. In addition to working closely with dozens of highly influential producers, highlights of series greenlit under Rovner's tenure as President include "The Flash" and "Riverdale" for The CW, "Blindspot" for NBC, "Gotham" for FOX, "Westworld" and "Watchmen" for HBO, "YOU" for Netflix, "Shrill" for Hulu, "Queen Sugar" for OWN and "Ted Lasso" at Apple TV.
Rovner rose through the ranks at WBTV over a more than 20-year tenure at the company beginning in the drama department before being elevated to oversee development, and then rising to co-President of Warner Horizon Scripted Television in 2014. Early in her career Rovner helped develop the long-running "Cold Case," as well as "The O.C." and the critically acclaimed "Everwood." As Senior Vice President of Drama Development, Rovner oversaw the development of some of the company's most important and successful programs including "The Closer," "Fringe," "Gossip Girl," "The Mentalist," "Nip/Tuck," "One Tree Hill," "Supernatural," "The Vampire Diaries" and many more.
During her time with the company, 18 series developed by Rovner or that were developed under her leadership reached the 100-episode milestone: "The 100," "Arrow," "2 Broke Girls," "Blindspot," "The Closer," "Cold Case," "The Flash," "Fringe," "Gossip Girl," "Gotham," "Major Crimes," "The Mentalist," "One Tree Hill," "Person of Interest," "Shameless," "Supergirl," "Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries."
Before WBTV, Rovner was Executive Director, Movies for Television, at ABC.
