Monty Sarhan is the CEO of SkyShowtime, a streaming service that is a joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global.[1] [2] Sarhan was named CEO in January 2022.[3]
He previously worked at Comcast[4] as well as Epix, where he served in a number of roles including as the Executive Vice President and General Manager.[5] He was responsible for securing additional distribution for Epix and launching the Epix Now subscription video on demand service.[6] He previously oversaw the network's programming, acquisitions, and scheduling teams and was responsible for the network's short- and long-term programming strategy.[7] Part of the initial team that launched Epix in 2009, Sarhan was previously the Senior Vice President in charge of all business affairs for the network.[7] In that capacity, he worked on distribution, digital strategy, business development, programming and film acquisitions, and production deals for the network.[8] He also negotiated key agreements that allowed Epix to become the first premium network to offer subscribers access on Android devices, Roku, Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation.[9]
Sarhan left Epix briefly to serve as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of WWE,[10] [8] a publicly traded entertainment company, before returning to lead Epix's programming acquisitions.[7]
Prior to joining Epix, Sarhan worked at Viacom Media Networks, a division of Viacom, where he handled a variety of transactions, including handling console and online gaming for the MTV Games group and Viacom's then-subsidiary Harmonix Music Systems.[11] [12] [8] He was part of the team that launched the successful Rock Band video game franchise.[13] [8]
Sarhan is the former sole founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief [14] of Cracked Entertainment, the parent company of Cracked Magazine[15] and Cracked.com. In late 2005, Sarhan acquired the assets of Cracked Entertainment and reinvented the brand, taking it from a children's comics magazine [16] and relaunching it in 2006 as a comedy, satire and parody brand for 18- to 34-year-old men. Cracked.com[17] was launched in 2006 implementing Sarhan's new editorial formula [12] and has since grown to become one of the country's leading comedy sites. It is ranked in the top 400 of all U.S. sites.[18]
Prior to acquiring Cracked, Sarhan practiced corporate law in both Boston and New York City, including at the law firm White & Case.[8] He is a graduate of Tufts University, Boston University and Duke University Law School.[8] Sarhan remains active in fundraising and other activities for his alma mater.[11]