April 2025

 

Susan Rovner is currently CEO of Aha Studios, an independent production company specializing in scripted, unscripted and documentary content.

 

Susan Rovner served as chairman of entertainment content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming from 2020-2023, where she led creative strategy for original entertainment content across NBCU’s broadcast, cable and streaming platforms: NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA Network and Peacock.

 

In her capacity as chairman, Rovner oversaw content teams tasked with development and current programming for scripted, unscripted, late night and specials. She also led first-run syndication including the Emmy Award-winning “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

 

Rovner played an integral role in greenlighting hit programming across NBCU’s entertainment portfolio, including NBC’s “Night Court” and “La Brea,” Peacock’s “Poker Face,” “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” “Bel-Air,” “Ted,” “Twisted Metal,” “Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip” and “Traitors,” and SYFY’s “Chucky” and “Resident Alien.”  

 

Under her leadership, NBC had more shows in the top 20 than any other network with the #1 unscripted series “The Voice,” the highest-rated night of dramas on television with “One Chicago” and the #1 entertainment program in the 18-49 demographic with “Saturday Night Live.” On the cable side, Bravo ranked among the top five cable networks among the 18-49 demographic.

 

Rovner also oversaw content development for NBCU’s talent deals with superstars including Miley Cyrus and Laverne Cox.

 

Prior to joining NBCU, Rovner was president of Warner Bros. Television (WBTV), the division of the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) that produces scripted dramatic primetime television programming for the five broadcast networks, premium/pay cable channels and on-demand/streaming platforms.

 

During her 22 years with WBTV, Rovner was instrumental in spearheading the company’s creative expansion to develop series for on-demand/streaming services and increasing its output for premium and basic cable, while maintaining the studio’s position as an industry leader in production for the broadcast marketplace. In addition to working closely with dozens of highly influential producers, highlights of series greenlit under Rovner’s tenure as president include “The Flash” and “Riverdale” for the CW, “Blindspot” for NBC, “Gotham” for Fox, “Westworld” and “Watchmen” for HBO, “You” for Netflix, “Shrill” for Hulu, “Queen Sugar” for OWN and “Ted Lasso” at Apple TV.

 

Rovner rose through the ranks at WBTV beginning in the drama department before being elevated to oversee development, and then rising to co-president of Warner Horizon Scripted Television in 2014 to president of Warner Bros. TV in 2018. Early in her career, Rovner helped develop the long-running procedural COLD CASE, “The O.C.” and the critically acclaimed drama “Everwood.” As senior vice president of drama development, Rovner oversaw the development of some of the company’s most important and successful programs, including “The Closer,” “Fringe,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Mentalist,” “Nip/Tuck,” “One Tree Hill,” “Supernatural,” “The Vampire Diaries” and many more.

 

During her time with WBTV, 18 series developed by Rovner or under her leadership reached the 100-episode milestone: “The 100,” “Arrow,” 2 BROKE GIRLS, “Blindspot,” “The Closer,” COLD CASE, “The Flash,” “Fringe,” “Gossip Girl,” “Gotham,” “Major Crimes,” THE MENTALIST, “One Tree Hill,” PERSON OF INTEREST, “Shameless,” “Supergirl,” “Supernatural” and “The Vampire Diaries.”

 

Before WBTV, Rovner was executive director, movies for television, at ABC. She is also on the board of the NAACP Entertainment Advocacy Council, the Anti-Defamation League, the Barnard Board of Trustees and the Paley Los Angeles Board of Governors.