NESN’s David Wisnia understands his unique relationship with his fan base

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“There are a lot of options for[fans]to spend their time and money,” the new CEO and president said. ”

It’s been a whirlwind three weeks since David Wisnia officially succeeded Sean McGrail as NESN’s president and CEO.

But he’s already developed a true sense of what Boston sports fans want, even if his words sound like what Boston sports fans want to hear.

“I know the level of passion is second to none,” he said during a recent conversation at the network’s Watertown headquarters. “I grew up in Los Angeles, and there are some strong teams there and a loyal fan base, but I don’t think it comes close to what you see here.

“In the short time I’ve been here, there’s been a real demand for content, a real passion for content, and the community surrounding these teams and brands has been incredible. All of this combined gives us a great opportunity to continue to grow. You can get it.”

Wisnia, who got into the media industry by handling rights and distribution deals at Fox Sports, jokes that he is a “recovering lawyer.” However, he has extensive and impressive experience in sports and entertainment as an executive at premium companies such as CBS and MGM Studios. He joins NESN from the Globe management consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, where he served as Managing Director.

Below are some of Wisnia’s thoughts on specific issues relevant to NESN viewers.

Globe: NESN’s mainstay is obviously its live coverage of Red Sox and Bruins games. NESN is currently producing complementary programming, but could there be new programming focused on the Red Sox and Bruins?

Wisnia: The Red Sox and Bruins have strong brands that are really iconic, so the question is, “How do we build those brands?” Viewership and viewership is already built in, but how do you complement it? How do you build on it? For example, by bringing in new audiences and creating opportunities during daytime hours. How can I look at other parts of the schedule that I represent?

We’ve already had a lot of meetings about how to create more touchpoints around these brands. Obviously, you want to make sure that the economics are there, that you have the size of audience you need to justify investing in that kind of content. But the new shoulder programming is definitely something we’ll be keeping an eye on.

GLOBE: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has suggested that baseball needs a more national strategy for broadcasting each team rather than regionally. NESN is well positioned compared to most regional sports networks due to its strongly intertwined ownership situation and large market. What do you think about the situation of RSNs and the position of NESN in that situation?

Wisnia: If you take a step back, I think the entire sports entertainment ecosystem is in a state of transition. Whether it’s theater, cable, sports, or entertainment in general, everyone is evolving, and the transition is ugly. Frankly, it’s just an ugly period. But I think our position is different. We are unique in that we own our IP. So we have a lot of freedom in how we monetize that and maximize NESN’s value to our fan base. I think that’s what sets us apart.

I think the exceptions to any nationalization would be the big market teams: Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, and Cubs. Given that we currently have a highly profitable business, it would have to be pretty compelling to consider any move.

Globe: If you polled NESN viewers about their frustrations, I think you’d get some common answers. Bugs in the NESN360 app, especially the rush to get to commercial breaks during Red Sox broadcasts, and overall too many commercials and reading material. What would you say to a viewer who is dissatisfied with certain aspects of the NESN experience?

Wisnia: Look, let me just say this: This has been true my entire career. Consumer experience is paramount. It has to be seamless, frictionless and easy for them. There are many alternatives to consume their time and money. So we need to make it as easy and as enjoyable for them as possible. That’s at the top of my list and I make sure to do it every day.

GLOBE: Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley played together on Bruins broadcasts for 19 years, with Judd Sirott replacing Jack this year. For a long time, Red Sox fans had Jerry Remy and Dennis Eckersley as analysts and Don Orcillo and Dave O’Brien as commentators, but lately the booth has become more chaotic and there are more voices. What are your thoughts on hearing a consistent, familiar voice in the booth?

Wisnia: That’s definitely something that’s been highlighted in our discussions with the production team. I think there is value in some sort of consistency across the board. It goes back to broadcast television. People get used to customization, they get used to habits, and they feel comfortable seeing the same streamers. That’s true for local news, and I think it’s true for sports as well. It’s not that we don’t want to mix things up, try new things, and experiment, but I think it’s important to have consistency within the broadcast booth as we continue to evolve.

Chad Finn

sports columnist

Chad Finn is a sports columnist for Boston.com. For the past four years, he has been named Boston’s Favorite Sports Writer in the annual Channel Media Markets and Research poll. He also writes a weekly sports media column for the Globe and writes for Globe Magazine.