Matthew Blank
CuriosityStreamAbout Matthew Blank
Matthew Blank (age 74) is an independent Class III director at CuriosityStream Inc. (CURI), serving since August 2020. He is a long-tenured media executive and former CEO of Showtime (1995–2015), interim CEO of AMC Networks (Sep 2021–Sep 2022), and senior marketing executive at HBO, bringing deep operating and strategic experience in premium television and content distribution .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks | Interim CEO | Sep 2021–Sep 2022 | Led transition during industry changes; board oversight experience |
| Raine Group | Senior Advisor | Through Dec 31, 2024 | Strategic advisory in media/technology investing |
| Showtime Networks (CBS subsidiary) | CEO; Chairman; President & COO; EVP Marketing, Creative Services & Public Affairs | CEO 1995–2015; Chairman 2016–2017; President & COO 1993–1995; EVP 1988–1992 | Grew premium network operations; broad P&L and marketing leadership |
| Home Box Office (HBO) | Various roles; SVP Consumer Marketing | ~12 years prior to Showtime (ending before 1988) | Built consumer marketing capabilities at a premium network |
| Geeknet, Inc. | Director | 2010–2015 | Public company board experience |
| National Cable Television Association | Board member | 1994–2017 | Industry policy and advocacy experience |
| Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. | Director | Nov 2019–Sep 2021 | Entertainment/media governance |
| Cumulus Media Inc. | Director | Until Jan 2025 | Radio/media governance |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks | Director | Since Oct 2022 | Current public company directorship |
| Harlem Children’s Zone | Director | Current | Non-profit governance |
| Manhattan Theater Club | Director | Current | Non-profit arts governance |
| The Creative Coalition | Director | Current | Non-profit advocacy governance |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Chair, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; members include Andrew Hendricks, Mike Nikzad, and Elizabeth Saravia .
- Independence: Board determined Blank is independent under NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2) .
- Board structure and meetings: Board (7 meetings in 2024); Audit (8); Compensation (6); Nominating & Corporate Governance (1). No director attended less than 75% of meetings; all directors attended last year’s annual meeting .
- Classification/tenure: Class III director through the 2026 annual meeting; serving on CURI’s board since August 2020 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $50,000 | Standard non-employee director retainer |
| Committee chair fee | $24,000 | As Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee chair |
| Committee membership fees | $0 | Not disclosed for Blank beyond chair fee |
| Meeting fees | $0 | Not used; structure is retainer + committee fees |
| Equity grant (RSUs) | $66,125 | 57,000 RSUs granted May 8, 2024; vest May 8, 2025; grant-date price $1.15 |
| Total | $140,125 | Fees earned $74,000 + stock awards $66,125 |
Additional guardrail: Omnibus Incentive Plan caps total director compensation (cash + equity) at $500,000 per compensation year (grant-date fair value) .
Performance Compensation
| Metric Category | Disclosure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Performance metrics tied to director pay | None disclosed | Non-employee director RSUs are time-based, vesting after one year; no performance metrics applied |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Type | Role | Overlap/Interlock Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks | Public | Director; former Interim CEO | Potential industry overlap (content networks vs. factual streaming). No related-party transactions disclosed between AMC and CURI . |
| MSG Entertainment | Public | Former Director | Prior tenure; no current interlock |
| Cumulus Media | Public | Former Director | Tenure ended Jan 2025 |
| Geeknet | Public | Former Director | Historical role |
- Related-party transactions: Proxy discloses subleasing arrangements with Hendricks Investment Holdings and financial advisor relationships with Stifel; no related-party transactions disclosed involving Blank .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Media leadership: Former CEO/Chairman of Showtime; interim CEO and current director at AMC Networks; senior executive at HBO .
- Governance: Extensive public-company board service and chairing of CURI’s Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee .
- Industry policy: Long tenure on National Cable Television Association board .
Equity Ownership
| Ownership Element | Shares | Percent of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 131,221 | 0.2% | As of April 8, 2025 |
| Direct ownership | 73,721 | — | Held directly |
| Unvested RSUs (scheduled) | 57,500 | — | Will vest on May 8, 2025; counted for beneficial ownership per proxy methodology |
| Shares pledged/hedged | None disclosed | — | Insider Trading Policy prohibits hedging and pledging without prior approval; no pledging by Blank disclosed |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independence and committee leadership: Blank is independent and chairs the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, supporting board refreshment and governance oversight .
- Attendance and engagement: Board and committees met regularly; all directors met ≥75% attendance and attended the annual meeting, indicating engagement .
- Pay structure alignment: Modest cash retainer plus annual RSUs aligns director incentives with shareholder interests; Plan-level cap of $500k limits excessive director pay .
- No disclosed conflicts: Proxy lists related-party items, none involving Blank, reducing conflict risk .
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Watch items
- Industry overlap: Current AMC Networks directorship could create perceived conflicts if CURI enters material transactions with AMC or its affiliates; none are disclosed, but monitor future dealings .
- Board dynamics: Family relationships on the board (Hendricks family) and sponsor designation rights may influence governance balance; Blank’s independent chair role on Nom-Gov is a counterweight .
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Policies supporting investor confidence
- Hedging/pledging restrictions and insider trading controls reduce misalignment risk .
- Use of independent compensation consultant (Willis Towers Watson) evaluated for independence by the Compensation Committee .
- No delinquent Section 16 filings; indicates compliance discipline .
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RED FLAGS: None specific to Blank disclosed (no related-party transactions, no low attendance, no unusual director pay practices) .
Overall, Blank’s profile (independent status, deep media operating experience, governance chair role, solid attendance, and straightforward pay/ownership) supports board effectiveness and investor confidence, with routine monitoring advisable for potential industry interlocks.