{{short description|American media executive}} {{resume-like|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox person/Wikidata|fetchwikidata=ALL}} '''Larry Namer''' is best known as the founder of E! Entertainment TV, a cable network that has expanded to 142 countries and has been valued at over US$7 billion.
==Early life and career== Born to Turkish immigrant parents and raised in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. Namer attended Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1966.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.classmates.com/people/larry-namer/4000130189776|title=larry namer, Class of 1966 - Abraham Lincoln High School 410 - Classmates|newspaper=Classmates.com|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/business/14flier.html?nytmobile=0|title=A New Yorker's Taste of Home, Found in Los Angeles|last=Raymond|first=Joan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 October 2008|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref> Namer was the first among his family to attend college, graduating from Brooklyn College, in 1971 with a degree in economics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu/users/nora/75th/index.php?link=hollywood|title=Brooklyn College 75th Anniversary Web Site|website=infotech.brooklyn.cuny.edu|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref> After graduation, he worked as an assistant cable splicer for what was then called Sterling Manhattan Cable which was later acquired by Time Inc., making $90 per week. After several years as a technician, he became the Vice Chairman of the Cable TV division of the Electrical Workers Union. By age 25, he became the Director of Operations at Manhattan Cable and a year later was given sales and marketing. In 1979, he became Director of Corporate Development and was charged with building businesses derived from non-entertainment uses of the cable TV systems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://businessinnovatorsmagazine.com/larry-namer-at-the-forefront-of-entertainment/|title=Larry Namer, at the Forefront of Entertainment|work=Business Innovators Magazine|access-date=2017-06-14|language=en-US}}</ref>
He was recruited to become VP/General Manager of Valley Cable TV in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-vets-startup-targets-chinese-78884|title=TV vets' startup targets Chinese market|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-06-14|language=en}}</ref>
== Media Empire == In the mid-1980s, Namer and his friend Alan Mruvka created a plan for a TV network, ''Movietime'', that would eventually become E! Entertainment Television.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lavallee |first1=Jules |title=Larry Namer, President/CEO, Metan Global Entertainment Group/ President, FilmCapital.io/ Co-founder, BTYKWN.com |url=https://influentialpeoplemagazine.com/larry-namer-president-ceo-metan-global-entertainment-group-president-filmcapital-io-co-founder-btykwn-com/ |website=Influential People News |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref> The platform would give rise to shows such as Talk Soup and Fashion Police starring Joan Rivers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2481432/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm | title=Larry Namer - Biography | website=IMDb }}</ref> Namer and Mruvka eventually sold their stake in the company, which is now owned by Comcast.
In 1989, he was awarded the President's Award from the National Cable Television Association.<ref>National Cable Television Association</ref> While remaining on the Board of E!, he started a media company in Russia called Comspan Communications.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-12-fi-flan12-story.html|title=Americans Still See Big Opportunities in Russia|last=Flanigan|first=James|date=2003-11-12|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-06-14|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The company promoted and produced several hundred rock concerts and brought the soap opera ''Santa Barbara'' to Russia. Additionally, the company was heavily involved in live sporting events and produced and promoted the Champions Tennis Tour with John McEnroe, Björn Borg, and others.
After E!, Namer created and launched several companies in the United States and overseas, including Steeplechase Media, Comspan Communications, Comspan Russia, and, with Marty Pompadur and Jean Zhang, Metan Development Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metanglobalentertainment.com/about-us/2/|title=About Metan {{!}} Metan Global Entertainment {{!}} Page 2|website=www.metanglobalentertainment.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tva.onscreenasia.com/2009/07/metan-development-group-in-major-partnership-with-shandong-film-tv-group-corporation/|title=Metan Development Group in major partnership with Shandong Film & TV Group Corporation - Television Asia Plus|date=2009-07-06|work=Television Asia Plus|access-date=2017-06-14|language=en-US}}</ref> Pompadur, former Chairman of News Corporation Europe,<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2018-08-14 |title=Former Murdoch Consigliere Marty Pompadur Joins Board Of Bitcoin Investment Firm MovieCoin |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/former-murdoch-consigliere-marty-pompadur-joins-board-of-bitcoin-investment-firm-moviecoin-1202445069/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> has also served on the boards of several public companies, including Nexstar Media Group<ref>{{Cite web |title=nxst-def14a_20170608.htm |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1142417/000156459017007977/nxst-def14a_20170608.htm |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> and MAXdome.
In October 2011, Namer joined the advisory board of SuperBox Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.marketwired.com/press-release/e-entertainment-television-co-founder-larry-namer-joins-advisory-board-superbox-inc-1569417.htm|title=E! Entertainment Television Co-Founder Larry Namer Joins Advisory Board of SuperBox, Inc.|website=m.marketwired.com|date=5 October 2011 |language=en|access-date=2017-06-14}}</ref>
Namer currently serves as the President/CEO of Metan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.itv-asia.com/en/marketing/mad-men-of-china/482-larry-namer|title=Larry Namer - iTV-Asia.com|access-date=2017-06-14|language=en-gb}}</ref>
== International Expansion ==
=== Comspan Communications (Russia) === Larry Namer is a veteran of the entertainment industry, known for his influential contributions to cable television, live events, music, and new media. Namer founded Comspan Communications, introducing Western Media and concerts to Russia. It became a media bridge between Hollywood and post-Soviet Russia. It brought Western content such as the American soap opera ''Santa Barbara'', rock concerts, and pop culture programming.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flanigan |first=James |date=2003-11-12 |title=Americans Still See Big Opportunities in Russia |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-12-fi-flan12-story.html |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Metan Global Entertainment Group (China) === In 2009, Namer co-founded Metan Global Entertainment Group (MGEG) with Martin Pompadur and Jean Zhang to create and distribute Western-style content for Chinese-speaking audiences worldwide.<ref name=":1" />
Projects and impact:
* ''Hello! Hollywood!'' - A Mandarin weekly entertainment show that reached over 1 billion viewers. * ''Return to Da Foo Tsun'' - A sitcom blending Chinese family themes with Western sitcom formats. It became the first Chinese series created by a Western producer to be nominated for Best Asian Comedy at the Asian Television Awards * ''Planet Homebuddies (Modern Life)'' - A Chinese sitcom take on the American sitcom Friends, following the lives of six urban millennials living in a Shanghai loft. * ''Explore the World, Nova Vita'' - TV series blending storytelling styles across East and West * ''Metan Wen Zhi Ku'' - Combine Western storytelling expertise with the needs of the Chinese market, focusing on transmedia projects
Namer spent time maintaining operations across Beijing and Shanghai to guide production, distribution, and strategic partnerships. He emphasized the need to be on the ground, working with Chinese partners, and understanding the approval process and cultural differences.
== Recent Work ==
=== LJN Media === Namer serves as chairman and President of this media consulting and production firm. LJN Media is a media development and consulting firm founded by Larry J. Namer. The company specialises in creating, developing, and managing entertainment projects - particularly unscripted television, digital content, and production platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LJN Media Company Profile {{!}} Management and Employees List |url=https://www.datanyze.com/companies/ljn-media/354327828 |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Datanyze |language=en}}</ref>
=== Diamond Lake Minerals === Namer serves as the Strategic Advisor to this digital asset company.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}
=== Kwaai === In 2024, Namer was appointed to the Board of Directors of Kwaai,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kwaai - Board |url=https://www.kwaai.ai/about/board |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=www.kwaai.ai |language=en-US}}</ref> an open-sourced personal AI organisation.
=== World Film Institute === In 2025, Namer was appointed Chairman of the World Film Institute, succeeding its founder Dr. Olympia Gellini.<ref>https://www.cbs42.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/835199619/dr-olympia-gellini-founder-of-world-film-institute-passes-torch-to-e-creator-larry-namer-as-new-chairman</ref> Namer's mission is to expands WFI's reach globally, using modern, cutting-edge technology so that high-quality education in visual storytelling is available to creators everywhere.<ref>https://www.empoweredentrepreneurmagazine.com/larry-namer-founder-of-e-network-media-visionary-now-chairman-of-the-world-film-institute-wfi/</ref> He seeks to offer accessibility: offering tools, mentorship, and opportunities that match the pace, diversity, and platforms of today's digital age (films, TikTok, etc.).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Chloe |title=E! Entertainment Television Creator Larry Namer Named Chairman of The World Film Institute |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/E-Entertainment-Television-Creator-Larry-Namer-Named-Chairman-of-The-World-Film-Institute-20250730 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Publications and Media Appearances ==
=== Book === In 2025, Namer published ''Offscript: Recipes for Success'', a memoir that combines personal anecdotes from his career in the entertainment industry with original recipes. The book recounts his early experiences in cable television, the founding of ''Movietime'' (later E! Entertainment Television), and subsequent ventures in International media, while offering insights on entrepreneurship and leadership.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}
=== Media appearances === Namer has been featured as a guest on several podcasts and interview series, including, ''Live Your Dream Podcast'',<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE3Uws4HSgw</ref> Hollywood Raw Podcast,<ref>https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/larry-namer-the-genius-behind-e-network-and-tvs/id1440209326?i=1000666875652</ref> The Slow Dive Podcast,<ref>https://www.theslowdivepodcast.com/episodes/larrynamer</ref> Family Office Podcast,<ref>https://podcast.familyoffices.com/885151/episodes/16864515-building-a-7b-media-empire-billionaire-larry-namer-co-founder-of-e-entertainment-television</ref> The Vibe with Kelly Cardenas,<ref>https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/larry-namer-co-founder-of-e-entertainment-why-build/id1696212935?i=1000684326486</ref> Schneps Media Podcast,<ref>https://podcasts.schnepsmedia.com/2025/06/17/from-brooklyn-to-broadcasting-larry-namers-journey-as-the-founder-of-e-and-beyond/</ref> The Million Dollar Branders Podcast,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVCpJzlwRHA</ref> and the Centimillionaire Strategies.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nJ80oV-yI]</ref>
== Awards == Namer has received several industry recognitions, including:
* National Cable television Association's President's Awards (1989) <ref name=":1"/> * Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television Award (Asia Television Awards) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Larry Namer Archives |url=https://tva.onscreenasia.com/tag/larry-namer/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Television Asia Plus |language=en-GB}}</ref> * International Legacy Award (2017 Elite Awards Foundation) * Lifetime Achievement Awards: 2018 Hollywood Tribute <ref name=":0"/> * 2019 Hollywood China Night <ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-27 |title=E!'s Larry Namer Honored At Hollywood China Night Gala |url=https://www.videoageinternational.net/2019/02/27/news/es-larry-namer-honored-at-hollywood-china-night-gala/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=VideoAge International |language=en-US}}</ref> * Tribeca Disruptor Award (2019) <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Larry Namer |url=https://scaleglobal.co/speakers/larry-namer/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=SCALE Global |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Larry Namer - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2481432/bio/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> * Lifetime Achievement Award, French Riveria Film Festival (2020) <ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.ljnmedia.com LJNMedia.com] * {{IMDb name|2481432}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Namer, Larry}} Category:Living people Category:Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni Category:Brooklyn College alumni Category:American entertainment company founders Category:Year of birth missing (living people)