Leading Media Research, Analytics Leader Loses Cancer Fight

She’s largely viewed as one of the media industry’s top research and analytics experts, and was first appointed to a key role in the field for the CBS Television Network in November 2017. Before that, she was associated with iHeartMedia. Now, many are expressing their deepest condolences to her colleagues and family members, as Radha Subramanyam has lost her battle with cancer.

Subramanyam was 55 years of age. Her passing came on January 5, according to media reports.

Since 2019, Subramanyam held the role of Chief Research and Analytics Officer for the CBS Corporation. She also served as President of CBS Vision, the company’s “futures” function. Thus, Subramanyam maintained oversight of all research operations for CBS, including audience measurement, analytics, market research, program testing and advertising research.

Until joining CBS in November 2017, Subramanyam held the role of President of Insights, Research and Data Analytics at iHeartMedia. She had joined the radio industry’s biggest company in March 2012, taking the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Research. Prior to that, Subramanyam was the SVP of Insights, Research and Analytics at The Nielsen Company, from January 2011-March 2012.

Subramanyam’s experience also included stints as VP and Global Head of Corporate and Media Research at Yahoo!, from 2008-2011; and as a VP at MTV Networks from 2004-2008. She also worked at Comedy Central from 2002-2004, and as a Manager at NBCUniversal from 1999-2002.

In 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink named Subramanyam as one of the Most Influential Women in Radio and featured her on the cover of the November 2013 issue.

Subramanyam holds a Ph.D. in Radio-TV-Film from Northwestern University. Before starting her career in broadcast media, she taught at both Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and at New York University.

RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION by Adam R Jacobson

It’s been a while since we’ve offered an “observation” — something that during Radha’s iHeartMedia days was a signature feature of this online publication and print newsletter. But, Radha deserves a fitting tribute. I’m just utterly gutted, learning that a 55-year-old genius has had her life extinguished by f-ing cancer. It’s not fair.

Yet, it allows us to take a pause to remember the life of an individual deeply passionate and committed to her work and to an industry she loved, going all the way back to those days off of Raymond Avenue as a teacher of broadcast media before joining iHeartMedia and, ultimately, CBS.

Paramount Chair of TV Media George Cheeks calls Radha a “true force of nature” as CBS said her “brilliance lay in translating complex metrics into meaningful insights that shaped programming and strategy.” We could not agree more. Subramanyam is survived by her husband, Joseph, and children Tara and River. We mourn for them as we celebrate a life worthy of a star.