Gravity Media hires ex-Seven head of sport Saul Shtein
Global live broadcast and production company Gravity Media has announced the hire of Saul Shtein, formerly the head of sport at both Seven and Fox Sports.
With over 40 years of broadcast industry experience, Shtein joins as the emerging company’s new director, production and content in Australia, and will be responsible for for Gravity Media’s expansion across production and content.
Gravity Media formed as a result of the amalgamation of production houses Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast, Input Media and Chief Entertainment.
Saul Shtein spent 15 years as Seven’s head of sport
Shtein started his career with at Nine in the ’80s, spending time as an executive producer largely across sport content, including Test and ODI Cricket, Rugby League, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Wimbledon, NSW & Victorian Horse Racing, Boxing, Surfing, plus panel shows WWOS, Sports Sunday and The Footy Show (Rugby League).
From there, he was hired as the head of sport at Fox Sports, in that time supervising the transformation from Premier Sports to Fox Sports Australia.
As Seven’s head of sport, he headed up the coverage of three Summer Olympics and two Winter Olympics, plus AFL, the Australian Open and more. He was made redundant from the role in 2019 after 15 years, just a month after James Warburton was installed as CEO.
Gravity Media CEO, John Newton, said Shtein has already left his footprint on the Australian broadcasting industry and will greatly enhance the Gravity team.
“Having someone of Saul’s calibre come on board provides a great opportunity for Gravity Media to continue our global expansion. He has already stamped a significant footprint on the broadcasting industry in Australia, and we’re delighted to be able to enhance our team with his expertise
“Saul will bring his vast experience and enthusiasm to support the exciting growth of Gravity Media both in Australia and globally.
“He is a perfect fit for our business, and we look forward working alongside him.”
Gravity Media CEO John Newton
Since his departure from Seven in 2019, Shtein has worked on the television of major live music events for Mushroom Group, including as a producer for 2020’s Music From The Home Front bushfire fundraising concert on ANZAC Day.
He has also produced ABC TV’s music television program The Sound.
Shtein said he is looking forward to working with Newton again, and that now is the perfect time to be joining Gravity Media.
“The media landscape is changing dramatically, from a commercial, technological and viewer perspective. With the rise in OTT TV and the move into mainstream broadcasting of Facebook, Apple, Amazon and DAZN, now is the perfect time to be joining such an ambitious, dynamic and relevant organisation as Gravity Media,” he said.
“I have known and worked with John Newton on many major projects and I’m really excited to be working with Gravity Media’s senior leadership team help develop and grow the business in all markets, from sport and media to news and entertainment”.
In recent years Gravity Media has worked locally on the Australian Supercars series, Supercars Eseries, Schools Spectacular, The Stawell Gift, Rugby Australia and more.
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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