“Life is happening for me, not to me.”
Jonathon Barbato is a pioneering media executive, entrepreneur, transformational leader, and conscious content advocate whose career spans more than three decades across television, digital media, streaming technology, audience development, and business growth. Throughout his professional journey, he has remained guided by a simple yet powerful belief: the stories people consume shape the reality they create. This philosophy has become the foundation of his mission to bring uplifting, inspiring, and transformational content to mainstream audiences around the world.
Today, Barbato serves as Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Best Ever Channels, a digital syndication and streaming media company dedicated to launching, operating, distributing, and monetizing niche television channels across the rapidly expanding Connected TV ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships with platforms including Roku, Amazon, Fire TV, VIZIO, LG, Android, Apple, and numerous FAST and AVOD distribution partners, Best Ever Channels has positioned itself as one of the leading independent streaming channel operators in the marketplace. Under Barbato’s leadership, the company has built a growing portfolio of channels designed to connect purpose-driven content with highly engaged audiences while generating meaningful value for content owners and advertisers alike.
His success in the streaming industry is the culmination of a career that began in traditional entertainment and evolved alongside every major transformation in media distribution. Starting as a clerk at Warner Bros., Barbato quickly demonstrated a talent for marketing, audience development, and strategic thinking. His drive and capabilities propelled him into increasingly influential leadership positions within some of the most respected organizations in entertainment, including Sony Pictures Television, FOX, MGM Television, and Starz Entertainment. Along the way, he developed a reputation for identifying emerging opportunities before they became mainstream and for creating innovative strategies that connected audiences with content in meaningful ways.
During his tenure at Sony Pictures Television, Barbato played a key role in international television marketing, helping bring innovative promotional strategies to global markets. Working with iconic television properties and one of the industry’s most recognized content libraries, he contributed to expanding the reach and visibility of programming around the world. His work demonstrated an ability to bridge creative storytelling with business objectives, a skill that would become a hallmark of his leadership style.
At MGM Television, Barbato served as Head of Marketing, overseeing trade and consumer marketing initiatives for both original productions and the studio’s extensive content library. His responsibilities included supporting domestic and international television sales, managing major industry events, and creating marketing strategies that strengthened the company’s competitive position. His success at MGM further established him as a respected marketing executive capable of navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing entertainment landscape.
Barbato’s impact became even more significant during his seven-year tenure at Starz Entertainment, where he served as Head of Marketing and oversaw teams spanning on-air promotion, creative services, consumer marketing, and affiliate marketing. Managing budgets exceeding $30 million and leading more than forty professionals, he helped shape the brand strategy of one of the nation’s premier premium television networks. Most notably, he spearheaded marketing and distribution efforts behind Starz On Demand, one of the earliest premium Video-on-Demand services. This groundbreaking initiative helped establish foundational consumer behaviors that would later define modern streaming and on-demand viewing, making Barbato an early architect of the digital television revolution.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Barbato eventually transitioned from corporate leadership into company building. In 2003, he became a founding partner of Ripe Digital Entertainment, a groundbreaking digital media company that anticipated the convergence of cable, broadband, and mobile distribution years before such models became commonplace. Barbato authored the company’s original business plan and private placement memorandums, helping secure more than $40 million in investment capital. Under his leadership, Ripe Digital expanded into tens of millions of households and generated significant advertising revenue while becoming one of the earliest examples of a multi-platform entertainment business.
His entrepreneurial success continued through Apricot Corporation, a digital marketing and audience development agency focused on helping entertainment brands grow and monetize their audiences. Through Apricot, Barbato advised leading media companies and streaming platforms including Pluto TV, Tubi, Outdoor Channel, A&E, Lifetime, and numerous others. His expertise in audience acquisition, strategic partnerships, digital distribution, advertising monetization, and customer retention helped clients collectively attract hundreds of millions of viewers while generating substantial revenue growth. His ability to identify market opportunities and execute scalable growth strategies made him a trusted advisor across the media and technology sectors.
Throughout his career, Barbato has consistently demonstrated a unique ability to operate at the intersection of creativity, technology, and business strategy. He has participated in raising more than $45 million in investment capital, generated millions of dollars in advertising revenue, helped attract over 250 million viewers to media properties, and built strategic partnerships that accelerated growth across multiple organizations. His expertise spans streaming television, FAST channels, AVOD monetization, digital marketing, audience acquisition, content distribution, branding, strategic planning, investor relations, and business development.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Barbato has become increasingly recognized for his contributions to personal development, transformational leadership, and conscious media. As a trained Personal Development and Business Coach utilizing the Mind Movies Method, he helps individuals and organizations align purpose with performance. He is a founding member of Jack Canfield’s Association of Transformational Leaders and a certified Law of Attraction coach. His work frequently places him alongside respected voices in personal growth, spirituality, and wellness, reflecting his commitment to fostering meaningful conversations around human potential and positive transformation.
A passionate storyteller, Barbato is also an author, writer, and media creator. His forthcoming spiritual novel, Hacking Heaven, represents another expression of his lifelong fascination with the power of narrative to inspire growth and expand perspectives. Through his writing, podcast appearances, public speaking engagements, and growing presence on Substack, he continues to share insights on media, personal transformation, conscious leadership, and purposeful living. His belief that media can elevate consciousness and contribute positively to society remains central to his professional and personal endeavors.
Outside of his professional life, Barbato values family, personal growth, and lifelong learning. He is a devoted father to his children, Anastasia and Alexander, and shares his life with his wife, Dr. Cari Schaefer, DACM, in Santa Barbara, California. His interests include photography, golf, tennis, hiking, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he continues to train regularly as a Blue Belt. These pursuits reflect the discipline, curiosity, and balance that have characterized his career and leadership philosophy. Jonathon has also demonstrated success in the subscription streaming market through Best Ever Channels, which operates two SVOD channels on Amazon with nearly 100,000 subscribers. This achievement highlights his expertise in building and scaling digital media platforms across both advertising supported and subscription based streaming models.
Over the course of more than thirty years, Jonathon Barbato has established himself as a visionary leader capable of anticipating industry shifts, building successful businesses, and creating meaningful impact through media. Whether launching television networks, advising high-growth companies, mentoring entrepreneurs, or championing conscious storytelling, he remains committed to a future where media serves not only commerce, but also connection, inspiration, and positive change. His legacy continues to be defined by innovation, service, and a steadfast dedication to helping individuals and communities thrive.
Character:
Jonathon Barbato demonstrates integrity through a career built on long-term relationships, loyalty, and service-oriented leadership. His commitment to using media as a force for positive change reflects a deep sense of purpose beyond commercial success. He consistently seeks opportunities to contribute to the growth and well-being of others through mentorship, coaching, philanthropy, and conscious storytelling.
Knowledge:
He possesses more than three decades of expertise spanning television, streaming media, digital marketing, audience development, content monetization, and business strategy. His experience ranges from executive leadership at major entertainment companies to founding and scaling innovative media ventures. He combines practical operational knowledge with a forward-thinking understanding of emerging trends and technologies.
Strategic:
Jonathon has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to identify market opportunities before they become mainstream. His role in pioneering Video-on-Demand initiatives, building streaming businesses, and developing scalable growth strategies reflects strong strategic vision. He excels at aligning long-term objectives with practical execution that drives measurable business outcomes.
Communication:
A skilled communicator who has led large teams, advised executives, presented to investors, and spoken on industry panels throughout his career. His ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable strategies has made him an effective leader and trusted advisor. Whether speaking with audiences, clients, partners, or team members, he creates understanding, alignment, and engagement through thoughtful communication.
http://www.besteverchannels.com/
