Charles Hirschhorn, President, AXS TV

Charles Hirschhorn, president of AXS TV and former chief creative officer for Retirement Living TV (RLTV), brings a wealth of entertainment experience to the network. With more than 20 years in film production, television, cable, broadband, animation, and video games, Hirschhorn's vision and ability to anticipate winning consumer entertainment trends have shaped and defined many of the industry's hottest properties.

Hirschhorn conceived G4 Television, the original and only 24/7 television network dedicated to video games in 2000. While serving as CEO from 2000 to 2005, he developed the original business model, secured $150 million in financing, and oversaw the channel's launch in 2002, with 12 originally produced series. During his tenure, Hirschhorn managed the $300 million acquisition and integration of TechTV into G4 Television in 2004. Overseeing all programming, advertising sales, affiliate sales, marketing, internet, finance, legal, and human resources, Hirschhorn grew this category-leading channel into a network with more than 350 employees in three offices (Los Angeles, New York, Detroit), $50 million in annual revenue, and more than 53 million cable and satellite subscribers.

Prior to creating G4 Television, Hirschhorn spent 10 years at the Walt Disney Company in various management roles, including motion pictures, television, and animation. He began at Disney as vice president of production, helping to launch Disney's newest studio, Hollywood Pictures. He then moved on to become executive vice president, where he managed the development and production of over 20 films, including the critically acclaimed The Joy Luck Club and Quiz Show, as well as the highly successful family favorite The Santa Clause.

Hirschhorn then became president of Walt Disney Television and Television Animation, where he was responsible for over 1,200 employees with an annual operating budget of $400 million and revenues of $800 million. He relaunched The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC in 1997 and oversaw all live-action films airing on the program as well as all animated television series and theatricals for ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Video Premieres, and Movietoons. He also served as executive vice president of production for the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group.

Before joining Disney, Hirschhorn was vice president of development for Fox Broadcasting, helping to launch the Fox Network and managing the network's primetime programming. He personally developed the Emmy Award-winning series In Living Color.

In addition, Hirschhorn is the founder of Fountain Productions, an independent production company where his credits include associate producer on the film Bull Durham and executive producer on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Miracle Worker, Inspector Gadget II, and Herbie: Fully Loaded, which were all distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

Hirschhorn earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard and served as an Arts Management Fellow for the National Endowment for the Arts. He also serves on the board of Harvard College Office of the Arts.