Employee Spotlight
Molly Solomon: Emmy Award-Winning Olympics Producer Takes on The Golf Channel
Oct 16, 2012
On the Benefits of Working for NBCUniversal:
Opportunity. If NBCUniversal hadn’t become part of Comcast, I wouldn’t have this new door opened at Golf Channel. We have more platforms, more growth and more opportunities for employees.
On Diversity:
One of my proudest achievements was dramatically increasing our on-air diversity during the 2012 Olympic Games. On a personal level, I’ve always said there’s no glass ceiling at 30 Rock. I’ve met so many empowered female executives. It’s inspiring.
On the NBCUniversal Culture:
A place where making great television is expected and applauded.
On NBCUniversal in Five Words of Less:
High expectations and endless challenges.
On Pride:
I am most proud of being a "lifer" — I joined NBC’s Olympics division right out of college and have found challenges throughout my 22 years here. I can’t imagine working anywhere else.
On Bringing the Olympics Across Platforms:
In the years preceding the 2004 Olympics, our group decided to show around-the-clock live coverage on our cable networks for the first time. It was a Herculean endeavor for our team. And we pulled it off. For the first time, we realized that the cable coverage could help feed the appetite for Olympic coverage on the mother ship, NBC. I’ve never been as exhausted or as proud of my team as I was in August of 2004.
On Working in Sports:
I’ve known I wanted to work in sports since I was 10 years old. The unpredictability of the games and the stories of the people who play them intrigued me. Plus, I adored the energy of television production work. It’s intoxicating because you have one chance to get it right.
On What She Looks For in Potential Team Members:
Passion for the product. Dynamism. Palpable work ethic.
On Why a Recent Grad Would Choose NBCUniversal:
I would use my own career path — from entry level employee to executive producer — to illustrate the opportunities I was offered by working hard and expressing desire. Now that we are an even larger company, the opportunities are multiplied.
On Opportunities to Build Brand and Market Share at Golf Channel:
The game of golf is in a terrific place. There are so many compelling young stars like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson and, of course, a rejuvenated Tiger Woods. We continue to build on synergies within NBCUniversal. Golf programming on NBC Sports pushes to Golf Channel every weekend it’s on the air. It’s an incredible marketing platform for a niche sports network. The awareness amongst a bigger audience is priceless. It accounts for so much of our growth — and oh yeah, the success of a guy named Tiger and compelling golf tournaments help, too.
On Single Best Piece of Advice:
"Leave it all on the track" — my dad
On Favorite Olympic Games:
The 2008 Olympics in Beijing were unforgettable for their magnitude from the very first moment, the grand Opening Ceremony. I sat next to Bob Costas at rehearsal and remember him saying, "I’ve never seen anything like this." Neither had the world.
On People You Run into on the Elevator at 30 Rock:
Hmmm… Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, even Jon Bon Jovi. In 22 years, you see a lot of the SNL group. But as the British say — "Keep calm and carry on!"
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