New York – November 10, 2026 -- The WNET Group, parent company of PBS flagship THIRTEEN, has appointed Steven Belser, a media executive with more than 20 years of experience, as Vice President of Distribution and New Revenue, effective this week.
Belser will unify programming, rights and clearances, research, and distribution goals to lead WNET's content distribution strategy across platforms, with a mandate to build audience reach and grow revenue. He joins the senior leadership team and reports to Edward F. O'Keefe, President and CEO of The WNET Group.
Jen Danielson will step down as VP Distribution by early 2027
Danielson's departure from her Vice President, Distribution role is scheduled for early 2027, leaving Belser to take over the combined distribution and revenue remit.
Belser brings Vox Media, Tribune Media and Bloomberg Media leadership experience
At Vox Media, Belser served as Vice President and General Manager, managing Vox.com, The Verge, Recode, and Polygon. At Tribune Media, he led national content, distribution, and monetization across the company's 42-station broadcast network.
He was a founding team member at Bloomberg's QuickTake and at NowThis Media, and later served as head of content at VICE Media and Chief Growth Officer at McCourt Global/Unfinished Media. His experience spans distribution, subscriptions, licensing, and brand partnerships.
WNET targets new viewers on platforms they already use
O'Keefe said the hire supports WNET's efforts to build a sustainable future for independent public media, citing Belser's entrepreneurial perspective.
Belser said he plans to bring franchises such as Great Performances, American Masters, and Nature to new viewers on existing platforms, and to create "new, durable revenue for WNET." The WNET Group reaches more than five million viewers each month across its channels and streaming platforms.