The world’s largest audio society, his sixteenth consecutive year leading the organization. He continues to be an audiophile, opera singer, and music lover spanning over five decades. He is Senior Associate Editor at Large for Positive Feedback, a contributor for more than 15 years.
Awarded one of their first Broadcast Journalism degrees by the University of Texas in 1970, Levi joined with then 31-year-old Ted Turner to establish Turner Broadcasting. Levi later became Vice President and General Sales Manager, Executive Vice President and General Manager of TBS Superstation succeeding Ted Turner, Executive Vice President of the Turner Broadcasting System and co-creator of TBS Network, TNT Network, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies. As co-creator of basic cable in the U.S. and consultant for CNN and Headline News, Levi helped expand the services worldwide. Upped to President, Levi purchased assets and programming from MGM, RKO, pre-1948 Warner Brothers and Hanna-Barbera for more than $5 billion. He licensed movies and TV series including Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Law and Order, among others for about $4 billion. He created the television parental guidance rating system later adopted by the industry incorporated in the S Chip for parental guidance. Levi selected and oversaw the colorization of 250 black and white movies and two series. He retired from TBS in 2002 after 32 years.
Levi became the first Academy Governor from the cable industry to be elected and serve at the Television Academy in Los Angeles and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in New York overseeing the adjudication of the Emmy Awards and other industry issues. He became a Governor to the Executive Committee in Los Angeles and later Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Television Academy Foundation. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of NATPE. He served as a Board Member and Judge of the Peabody Awards…Television’s Highest Awards. Levi was awarded Medals of Distinction from both Television Academies and was nominated for two Emmy Awards. Levi was given the highest honor in television by the New York Television Academy, The Silver Circle Award.
Levi established numerous FIRSTS on television. In addition to consulting on the creation of CNN 24 hour news, he co-created the “Basic Cable” category for U.S. consumers. Levi directed that TBS be the first 24-hour television entertainment service in America. TBS also became the first full-time stereo network with enhanced audio coverage of sports. Levi brought the Golden Globes to TBS and cable for the first time in 1989. Levi oversaw the management and programming of Turner’s 14 entertainment networks worldwide.