Stephen Chao

Stephen Chao (born ) is an American internet entrepreneur, television producer, and media executive. He has worked as the president of the Fox Broadcasting Company, an independent television producer, president of USA Network, and co-founder of WonderHowTo.com.

Early life and education Stephen Chao was born in to a Chinese American family, and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, moving to New Hampshire when he was eight years old. His maternal grandfather was a prominent official in pre-revolutionary China, once serving as the nation's economic minister to the United States. Chao is the nephew of Zao Wou Ki, a well-known Chinese impressionist painter.

Chao attended Fay School and then the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. He attended Harvard University, where he majored in classical studies in 1977. He later went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1981. and tracked UFO sightings throughout South America for three months.

Fox Television Upon graduation, Chao developed an interest in movies. Multiple rejections by the studios led him to New York, working in finance for movie producer Dino De Laurentiis. In 1983, Chao was hired as the Vice President of Acquisitions and Corporate Development for Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Two years later, Murdoch purchased the 20th Century Fox film company. Looking to expand the studio into television, he asked Chao to become a part of the creative team for the nascent Fox Television network, which was formerly operated by MetroMedia.

Chao's new position was under Fox President Barry Diller. His duties were to develop innovative, low-cost shows for the owned and operated station group. The most talked about controversy surrounding the two individuals occurred when Diller became so enraged with Chao that he hurled a 3/4-inch videocassette tape across the room, denting the wall. Chao framed the dent, convincing Diller years later to autograph it. to strip naked during his speech to illustrate his point about censorship – perhaps, nudity was less anti-social as opposed to violence and murder. Not at all amused, Murdoch fired Chao immediately afterwards.

McDonald's

After being fired, Chao took the opportunity to work at a McDonald's restaurant in Redondo Beach. working with such shows as the WWF, La Femme Nikita, Highlander: The Series, Baywatch and the Jerry Springer Show. He was also responsible for the dramedy Monk. Chao resigned as president of USA Cable on November 5, 2001. in Santa Monica, California. With backing from Cambridge, Massachusetts-based General Catalyst Partners, WonderHowTo.com launched in January 2008. As of January 2018, WonderHowTo had more than 13 million monthly uniques.