Former Blockbuster Prez Mike Kelly Retiring From Dish Network

29 May, 2015 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Dish Network May 29 announced that Mike Kelly, a 15-year veteran with the satellite operator and former president of Blockbuster LLC, is retiring on May 31.

Kelly, who joined Dish after it acquired his Kelly Broadcasting Systems (KBS) in 2000, was president of Blockbuster after the video chain was acquired out of bankruptcy in 2011. Dish shuttered Blockbuster in 2013 after failing to launch a wireless retail business based from the video stores.

Kelly founded KBS in 1991, which operated satellite transmission facilities globally. KBS primarily distributed international content from countries such as Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Holland, Italy, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia and the UAE.

Kelly led the development of Dish’s international programming business and was responsible for positioning DishWorld as the dominant provider of international programming domestically, having launched more than 50 international networks.

DishWorld in April was rebranded Sling TV International as a subsidiary of Sling TV, Dish’s over-the-top linear TV service — a first in the pay-TV landscape.

The exit of Kelly, who expects to remain active in the technology sector through various private equity investments and other entrepreneurial activities, follows former Dish CEO Joe Clayton, who retired in March.
 

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