Maryland Public Television (MPT) named Steven J. Schupak the television network’s sixth president and chief executive office. Schupak is MPT’s current executive vice president and station manager and will succeed retiring CEO Larry D. Unger on July 1, 2025.
Schupak was selected by MPT’s governing body, the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, after a nationwide search. Commission Vice Chair Richard J. Bodorff led the search committee.
“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,” Schupak said. “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.”
Schupak lives in Potomac, Maryland and joined MPT in 2003 after a two-decade career in television and media. He was named chief operating officer in 2014 and station manager in 2021. Over that time, he has overseen content creation, educational services, and development, finance, and accounting operations for the 55-year-old statewide TV network.
He also created the Maryland State Ad Agency division of MPT. This eight-year-old division provides advertising and media buying services for Maryland state agencies and other governmental clients. Additionally, he managed the launch of the Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education, which fosters media literacy among school-aged children.
He has helped MPT rise to one of the nation’s top producing stations and become the sixth largest in total revenue of the 150 PBS member stations. MPT brings in the most revenue of the 18 state-licensed public TV stations in the United States.
Schupak is a member of the board of directors of the National Education Telecommunications Association and serves as vice chair and director on the board of the Olney Theater. His impressive contributions to the field of television and media have been recognized by prestigious institutions like the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Maryland International Film Festival, and the Maryland Daily Record.
Maryland Public Television has its own state version of an Antiques Roadshow-like program called Chesapeake Collectibles, offers a free app called MPT Passport, and has the long running shows Outdoors Maryland (35 seasons) and Maryland Farm and Harvest, which just celebrated its 150th episode.