USC Marshall School of Business

As Senior Vice President, Analytics Innovation Research & Strategy, Melva Benoit oversees all long-range and day-to-day audience research, national and local market ratings analysis, and consumer insight for FOX’s Entertainment Division.

The Research Department ensures accurate audience measurement, oversees the management and analysis of a wide range of information sources, and interfaces with the company’s sales and corporate communications teams to ensure the integrity and timely dissemination of any information targeted towards the advertising and media communities.

Before joining FOX in 2004, Ms. Benoit was Senior Vice President, Program Research, for NBC. Prior to that, she was Director of Research and Planning at Nickelodeon, where she brought an understanding of the online behavior of young people and adults to the cable channel’s online brands, including Nick.com and NickJr.com. She also was responsible for research at Nickelodeon Enterprises, which includes Nickelodeon Magazine, consumer products, and parks and recreation.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Benoit held positions at The Disney Channel, where she developed research strategies for the pre-school to pre-teen audience, and at Comedy Central, as part of the team responsible for re-launching that channel. Her research there was influential in the development of such network hits as "South Park" and "The Daily Show."

Her first research position was with Cartoon Network, where she established the research strategy and launched the first brand-tracking study for the animation network.

Ms. Benoit has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She serves on the board of the USC Marshall School of Business’ Institute for Communication, Technology, and Management (CTM).