NEW YORK, NY, March 13, 2006 – 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 promotion of Sommer Hixson as the Vice President of Public Relations. She will report to Ellen Kroner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing for Rainbow Media.
"For four years, Sommer has proactively developed relationships with trade and consumer media to create important branding opportunities for Rainbow's emerging on-demand networks," stated Kroner. "She has consistently provided strong results that have continued to raise brand awareness for Mag Rack and sportskool. Sommer has worked hard to effectively and successfully communicate Mag Rack's evolving brand and business model to the media, the consumer and our internal team, while simultaneously supporting sportskool's rapid growth to become one of the most widely distributed on-demand networks available."
In her new role, Hixson is charged with developing, directing and implementing business and consumer public relations strategies and external communications activities to relevant audiences, including the media, customers, television and new media industries, potential advertisers and sponsors, and the networks' cable affiliates. She will also act as counsel to senior management in building long-term strategies for communicating Mag Rack and sportskool's aggressive business and programming initiatives.
Hixson first joined Rainbow Media in 1998 as a Senior Manager of Public Relations for Bravo and IFC. For three years she directed national consumer press for the two national cable networks, launching campaigns for the original series "Michael Moore's The Awful Truth" on Bravo and "Greg the Bunny" at IFC among others. Hixson then spent two years away at Palm Pictures, where she directed new media press for the company's properties, including sputnik7, RESFEST and film titles including "Dark Days" and "Scratch." In 2002, Hixson returned to Rainbow Media as Director of Public Relations for Mag Rack, where she has since overseen all publicity and communications efforts for the network. In 2003, Hixson assumed the same responsibilities for sportskool.
Hixson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rutgers University and a Masters in Media Studies from New School University in New York. She is a member of CTAM, CTPAA and EPPS, and a committee member of the CTAM On-Demand Consortium.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.