On Friday, Maryland Public Television (MPT) announced that Steven J. Schupak, the network’s executive vice president and station manager, will take over as president and chief executive officer on July 1, succeeding retiring CEO Larry D. Unger.
“It’s an honor to take the helm of Maryland Public Television, a remarkable organization with a rich history of engaging audiences through educational, documentary, natural history, arts, public affairs, and community-based programming,” said Schupak in a statement.
“Even though the media landscape is constantly evolving, the talented team here will keep our service-driven mission at the heart of everything we do, consistent with our promise to enrich lives and strengthen communities,” the soon to be president added.
Schupak’s appointment follows a nationwide search led by MPT’s governing body, the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. Commission Vice Chair Richard J. Bodorff headed the search committee.
A Potomac resident, Schupak joined MPT in 2003 following a 20-year career in television and media.
He was appointed chief operating officer in 2014 and station manager in 2021.
During his tenure, he has overseen content creation, educational services, development, and financial operations.
Schupak spearheaded the creation of the Maryland State Ad Agency division to provide advertising and media services for state agencies and also launched MPT’s Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education to enhance media literacy statewide, particularly among school-aged children.
Under Schupak’s leadership, MPT has become one of the nation’s top-producing public television stations and ranks sixth among 150 PBS member stations in total revenue, while leading among 18 state-licensed public TV stations.
Before joining MPT, Schupak served as vice president at Henninger Media Services and held executive roles with COMSAT Video Enterprises and the National Cable Television Association. He started his career with ABC Television Network.
His contributions to the broadcast industry have earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Silver Circle by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter in 2020.
He was also recognized by the Maryland International Film Festival and named an “Influential Marylander” by The Maryland Daily Record.
Schupak holds a bachelor’s degree in film and television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland Global Campus, which honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2019.