Kate Carr Named Vice President, Marketing, Mag Rack & sportskool
Phil Summers Named Vice President, Integrated Sales, Mag Rack & sportskool
December 12, 2006 New York – Rainbow Media’s Mag Rack, the ultimate on-demand television network, and sportskool, the first television network dedicated to delivering in-depth expert sports instruction, announced the appointments of Kate Carr as vice president of Marketing and Phil Summers as vice president of Integrated Sales. Ms. Carr and Mr. Summers will build on the positive momentum and success of Mag Rack and sportskool by bringing more marketing expertise and focus for the services.
“Mag Rack and sportskool are making great strides among cable operators and television viewers by focusing on creating entertaining content and helping market the VOD experience to subscribers,” stated Daniel Ronayne, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mag Rack and sportskool. “We have a significant opportunity to build on the positive momentum generated over the past year. Kate and Phil are talented executives whose experience will prove integral in promoting the growth and development of these networks in a rapidly evolving television and entertainment culture.”
In her new role, Ms. Carr will be responsible for the creation and implementation of marketing strategies for both Mag Rack and sportskool. She will supervise all aspects of brand positioning, consumer and trade advertising, event marketing and promotions for both networks, as well as, create strategic alliances with other content and technology partners. Prior to joining Mag Rag and sportskool, Ms. Carr served as Vice President of Marketing for World Picks, Rainbow Media’s preeminent provider of in-language; international on-demand television programming services, and had a lead role in launching World Picks in six major U.S. Markets.
Mr. Summers will oversee and direct all non-affiliate revenue-generating activities for both Mag Rack and sportskool, including advertising sales, sponsorship initiatives, product placements and merchandising. Before joining the Rainbow Media, Mr. Summers served as the Senior Director of Sports Marketing at SIRIUS Satellite Radio, where he developed acquisition and retention marketing efforts and promotions with SIRIUS’s sports broadcasting partners. Previously, Philip served as Senior Director, Marketing and Sales at the National Football League (NFL).
In 2005, Mag Rack and sportskool have made significant progress, broadening distribution to more VOD-enabled digital cable homes, developing new and exciting programming and creating a wider following among television viewers.
Mag Rack’s VOD content includes such popular programming as “Motorcycle Freedom,” “Smart Carb Gourmet,” “Guitar Xpress,” “24seven gamer” and “Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts.” Mag Rack is now available to 5 million on-demand customers in 50 U.S. markets.
sportskool’s programming features some of the most recognizable names in sports, including Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Walton, Mike Vallely, tennis coach Brad Gilbert and renowned training and performance expert, Mike Verstegen. sportskool recently launched nationwide on Comcast and currently reaches over 10 million digital cable subscribers through additional distribution on cable systems including Cablevision, Charter, Mediacom, Mid-Hudson, Shrewsbury and Blue Ridge
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment, as well as on-demand services including Mag Rack and sportskool. Rainbow’s other businesses include its regional programming services – Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks and Metro Traffic & Weather – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications.