Melissa Tolchin is the Vice President, Marketing, TV Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal. Tolchin oversees the affiliate marketing for NBCUniversal’s entertainment networks, including Bravo, Oxygen, Syfy, cloo, Chiller, Universal HD and USA Network. Additionally, she oversees the team responsible for corporate marketing negotiations with AT&T, Charter, Dish, Insight and Mediacom. Tolchin reports to Brian Hunt, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales Strategy, TV Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal.
Most recently, Tolchin oversaw the company’s “Your Summer Solution” promotion, an unprecedented affiliate marketing opportunity across numerous networks, including Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy and USA Network, as well as the fourth installment of Bravo’s award-winning “Top Chef Tour,” a nationwide 21-city promotional tour partnering with local MVPDs. Tolchin also manages the affiliate opportunities for “Characters Unite” and “Character Project,” USA Network’s award-winning pro-social campaign.
Tolchin returned to NBC Universal as Director of Marketing for the TV Networks Distribution group in 2004, where she was instrumental in organizing trade shows such as The Cable Show and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) Summit. She also played a pivotal role in sponsorships and advertising opportunities for NBCUniversal and worked closely with USA Network for the US Open, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) affiliate events, and talent appearances.
Previously from 2001 to 2004, Tolchin was Director of Corporate Business Development for Bloomberg L.P. where she developed and executed synergistic advertising programs across multiple media products including television, Internet, print and radio. She was also Director of Broadcast Marketing U.S. for Bloomberg L.P. Before the NBC and Universal merger, Tolchin was Regional Manager of Affiliate Sales for NBC Cable Networks in 2000. During this time, she was responsible for the New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky region. She developed and implemented strategies that maximized distribution for CNBC, MSNBC, the Olympics and ShopNBC.
Extending her reach within the cable industry, Tolchin serves on the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) New York Board. She is a member of CTAM and the General Electric Women’s Network (GEWN). In 2009, Tolchin was honored as on of Multichannel’s “40 under 40.” Tolchin graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor in Consumer Economics, a concentration in Communications. She is also a graduate of “CTAM U” in 2006, which is an extensive learning program at the Harvard Business School.
Tolchin resides in Westchester, NY with her husband, son and daughter.