EXECUTIVE PROFILES
Experienced automotive television producers and television network operators spearhead WheelsTV - each leveraging his extensive contacts in the television and automotive industries. The management team brings a wealth of experience to this innovative television venture.
WheelsTV's founders have produced numerous general-interest automotive television series for over a decade and distributed them on the Discovery Channel, Speedvision, The Outdoor Life Network, PBS and to over 100 countries, worldwide.
Wild About Wheels: The first-ever automotive television series to air in prime time on a general interest television network. Wild About Wheels showcases over 250 feature stories. This multi-award-winning series was one of the highest rated shows on The Discovery Channel for three years.
WHEELS: This documentary series covering landmark cars and events in automotive history aired in prime time on PBS stations across the country and won three national awards for programming excellence.
Motor Trend Television: Highly rated prime-time series on Speedvision for three years. Best of Conference, International Automotive Media Association, 2001.
Wild About Wheels Specials: Over 80 programs in worldwide distribution.
Management Team
Jim Barisano, Chairman and CEO |
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Jim has headed television production and distribution companies since the mid 1980's. His landmark series, Wild About Wheels, spawned the general interest automotive television genre when it became a primetime hit on The Discovery Network. Jim is a multi-award-winning writer/producer and the executive producer of over 100 automotive television programs. His television programming airs throughout the world. |
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Lehel Reeves, President Programming Acquisitions and Development |
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Mr. Reeves' management and production experience includes major market broadcast television station management, cable television sales, television program development, major studio feature film syndication and television syndicated product development and distribution. He is a former vice president of New Line Cinema. |
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Michael Iandoli, Chief Operating Officer |
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Michael has over 30 years of executive management experience. He was formerly president of TAC Worldwide Companies, a billion dollar contract labor firm serving the automotive and high tech industries. He was named one of the IT leaders in the United States in 2000 by Computerworld Magazine. |
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Mitchell Freund, VP, Distribution |
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Mr. Freund spearheads the distribution growth of WheelsTV. He has over two decades of experience in cable television including Group Vice President, SportsChannel Regional Networks; Director, National Geographic Channels, Worldwide; Director, International Development, Gaylord Cable Networks; and consultancies at The New York Times, Hearst Entertainment, GoodLife TV, XY.tv and The Gospel Music Channel. |
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Al Viator, Director of Photography |
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Al oversees field production of WheelsTV's location-based programming. He has over 20 years experience producing public affairs, news and entertainment programs for a wide spectrum of broadcast, cable and production house clients including ABC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, Discovery and National Geographic. His camera work was nominated for an Emmy for the two hour television special Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope with Meryl Streep. |
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Bill Stephens, Senior Producer |
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Bill is an award-winning writer/producer and on-air talent for a long list of automotive television programs including NHRA Drag Racing, The Daytona 500, Wild About Wheels, and Motor Trend Television. He has produced or appeared in programs on CBS, ESPN, The Discovery Channel, Fox, Family, Speedvision, Outdoor Life Network, and PBS. |
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WheelsTV was recently awarded two Silver W3 Awards in the "Branded Content: Business to Consumer" category for our 'Top 200 Video Test Drive' and '1:00 on One Vehicle Profile' videos!
About the W3 Awards:
The W3 Awards honors creative excellence on the Web, and recognizes the creative and
marketing professionals behind award winning sites, marketing programs, and video work
created for the Internet. In honoring outstanding Websites, Web Advertising, and Web Video, The W3 Awards is the first major Web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between. Small firms are as likely to win as Fortune 500 companies and international agencies.
http://www.w3award.com/ |