Henry Siegel, a U.S. syndication executive based in New York City who was involved in live television events, including the MTV Video Music Awards, and the 1987 special Return to the Titanic, died on October 12 at his home in Newtown, Connecticut. He was 85.
Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Siegel began his career as head of media at Grey Advertising in New York. In 1976, he founded Lexington Broadcast Services (LBS) and became a pioneer of barter TV syndication. At LBS, he and his twin brother, Paul, also produced and distributed the MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. The brothers also produced and distributed television series such as Fame and Baywatch, as well as game shows such as Family Feud.
In 1988, Siegel and the investment firm Warburg Pincus Capital bought out Grey’s interest in LBS. Six years later, the Siegel brothers launched Seagull Entertainment. In 1998, they merged their television production and distribution company with Kaleidoscope Entertainment and Sports to form Kaleidoscope Media Group.
Survivors include his wife, Fran; his children, Brian, Mickey, Scott and Leigh; and his brothers, Paul and Aryeh.
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