Stuart Graber

Managing Director, Magnetar Media Investments

Stuart B. Graber Magnetar Media Limited Throughout his career in media and entertainment, Stuart B.Graber has earned a reputation for innovation and leadership in a broad spectrum of business and media activities. His experiences comprise successful start-up companies, distribution management companies, plus a variety of business consulting and philanthropic assignments. After earning, a Master's Degree in Broadcasting Science, he formed a documentary filmmaking company. On the advice of his college professor he joined the Children’s Television Workshop as an international sales and co-production executive. He was responsible for the funding and development of Plaza Sesamo for Spanish speaking Latin America and the Hebrew language version Rehov Sumsum. In 1980 he was recruited to become the first international executive for Telepictures Corporation where he was given a worldwide brief to license films and television programs to television broadcasters. Working with a small catalogue of independently produced programming he devised specialised sales and marketing tools to highlight and differentiate his product in a very competitive market. Pioneering sales efforts in Eastern Europe, Russia, China and India were particularly notable. In 1986, when the Lorimar Telepictures merger occurred, Graber was asked to move to London where he took over as Managing Director for all television distribution activities. At Lorimar Telepictures International he recruited and supervised a worldwide team of sales executives and established field offices in the major European capitals. As the only senior executive living and working outside the USA at the time he became responsible for every new sequential sales area to follow including home video, consumer products, pay and cable television and music publishing. In 1988 he was presented with the prestigious Broadcasting Business Award for his contributions to the international program sales business. When Time Warner acquired Lorimar Telepictures in 1989 Graber was asked to join a newly formed unit Time Warner International as Managing Director. His mission was to seek out and find new and strategic investments for the Corporation. One of the first opportunities he discovered for the company was an investment in the first commercial network radio station in the United Kingdom, Classic FM radio. He was responsible for almost of all of the pre-operational financing arrangements including a vital leasing deal for the network construction of aerial masts to the recruitment of the first Chief Executive. Graber served on the Board of Classic FM until 1995 when Time Warner sold its equity stake for a £60 million plus profit. As a result he was asked by the Warner Music Group and Sony Corporation to build a digital audio platform for Europe, Middle East and Africa which became known as Music Choice. From a standing start Graber was able to launch the business European wide and build a base of cable and satellite subscribers that has grown to over 15 million listeners. Working closely with the Board Graber was successful in fending off fierce competition and bringing in Audio Environments Inc (AEI) and British Sky Broadcasting (BSB) as investors. Following the successful restructuring at Music Choice Graber was recruited to become International President of Digital Convergence Corporation an internet related technology business that pioneered the use of special audio signals and print related barcodes that could connect physical objects to the virtual world. This new media opportunity exposed Graber to fast developing media technology and the various convergent applications associated with all forms of advertising and promotion. In 2002 he started his own media investment and consulting business Magnetar Media Limited. He currently advises various institutions and individual clients helping them look for new growth opportunities, securing finance and assisting management. Graber is married to Susan Adler, an accomplished photographer and award winning sculptress. They have two grown children, Amanda and David. There are three important things to know about me. 1) I listen 2) I work hard 3) I'm very persistent