Susan Smith Promoted to Vice President, Trade Marketing for WE tv
Jennifer Robertson Promoted to Vice President, Consumer Marketing for WE tv
WE tv Surpasses 60 Million Subscribers Nationwide
New York, NY, September 11, 2006 – WE tv announced today the expansion of the network's marketing team, with Kenetta Bailey joining as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Further strengthening the team, Susan Smith was promoted to Vice President of Trade Marketing and Jennifer Robertson was promoted to Vice President of Consumer Marketing. Bailey will report to Kim Martin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WE tv, Smith and Robertson will report to Bailey. Today's announcement comes in conjunction with WE tv stating that the network now exceeds 60 million subscribers nationwide.
Over the past year, WE tv has significantly ramped up its original programming, generating several hit series, including Bridezillas, John Edward Cross Country and Secret Lives of Women. The network also established its first public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women, and more recently underwent a brand refresh, dropping the 'Women's Entertainment' from its name and adding a new and fitting tagline: "WE Have More Fun." At the close of the network's best summer ever for Prime HH and key demo delivery, WE tv is on pace for the highest rated season in network history. The network will look to Bailey to continue this momentum by spearheading the strategic rollout of the network's new brand position to all constituencies, including viewers, affiliates and advertisers. The creation of WE tv's new marketing infrastructure will also provide Bailey and her team the mandate to maximize the potential of the WE tv brand across all platforms and audiences.
"Kenetta brings top notch experience and marketing to WE, and we are thrilled to have her serve as the key architect in growing the WE brand. With the rapid success of WE over the past year, and now having surpassed 60 million subscribers, the network reached a point where we needed to expand and make a stronger investment in marketing to continue the ratings momentum," stated Martin. "With this expansion of the marketing department, as well as the recent expansion of our programming team, we have created an infrastructure that fosters continued growth for the network. Susan and Jen have done a tremendous job for WE, and with the support of Kenetta and the rest of the marketing team, we are confident that the network will continue to see heightened brand recognition, keeping it fresh in the eye of the industry and public."
In her new role, Bailey will manage all aspects of consumer, affiliate, trade and ad sales marketing and will serve as one of the key architects of network messaging and branding. She will oversee marketing activities across all platforms for WE tv, including advertising campaigns, promotions, online initiatives, special events and the development of integrated promotional packages to enhance the network's key initiatives. In their new positions, Smith and Robertson will report to Bailey and be charged with overseeing all aspects of trade and consumer marketing respectively. Smith will manage national ad sales marketing, trade advertising, affiliate marketing and multi-platform sponsorship development, while Robertson will oversee all consumer campaigns to support original programming, partnerships, brand extension and new media opportunities, and the continued expansion of WE.tv, the online destination for the network.
Before joining WE tv, Bailey served as Group Marketing Director at NBC Universal's Telemundo Network, where she led the marketing and production team responsible for the creation and execution of client-driven marketing initiatives targeting the Hispanic audience and supported the network's upfront and scatter ad sales opportunities. Prior to Telemundo, Bailey spent five years in the music industry, first serving as Senior Director of Strategic Business Development for RCA Records Label, a division of Sony BMG, and later as Vice President of Strategic Marketing for BMG Music. Earlier in her career, she held marketing positions at Pepsi-Cola Company and Kraft Foods. Bailey started her career in public relations, and held Senior Account Executive positions at Golin/Harris Communications and Allstate Insurance Company. Bailey is a three-time graduate of Northwestern University, having earned her Master of Business Administration, Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from Northwestern University. She is a member of Women In Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM).
Smith joined WE tv in 2001 as Director of Trade Marketing, leading the then newly formed department. In that role, her efforts to identify and develop added value on-air sponsorship opportunities and off-air extensions for advertisers helped ad sales generate 102% of goal for the network's first commercially sold upfront 2002/2003 season. Prior to WE tv, Smith was Marketing Manager for Lifetime Television, where she contributed to the launch of Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Real Women, and played a role in launching Lifetime's public affairs initiative. Earlier in her career, she worked for Initiative Media (formerly Western International Media) as manager client services and Pyramid Services as a marketing assistant. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from West Chester University. She is a member of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and is also currently attending the WICT Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.
Robertson joined WE tv in 2000 as Manager of Marketing, and in 2003 was promoted to Director of Marketing. She was the lead architect of WE Insider, an online panel, now consisting of more than 5,000 women, that allows WE tv to gain insight into consumer behaviors and trends, and creates a forum for women to communicate their thoughts on programming and marketing. In 2005, Robertson spearheaded the development of the network's award-winning Minutes of Empowerment campaign, the on-air component of WE tv's public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women. Most recently Robertson also led the launch of WE Mobile, an offering of WE tv signature programming on mobile devises. Prior to WE tv, Robertson held marketing positions with Newsday, CoActive Marketing, and Sony Music Video. Robertson is a member of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and is a WICT Betsy Magness Leadership Institute alumna.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, Prime M-Su 8p-11p Daypart Averages for HH, W18-34, W18-49, W25-49, W25-54 AA (00) SU'02 (5/27/02-8/25/02), SU'03 (5/26/03-8/31/03), SU'04 (5/31/04-8/29/04), SU '05 (5/30/05-8/28/05), SU'06 (5/29/06-8/27/06)
About WE tv
WE tv is the only cable network dedicated to helping women connect to one another and the world around them. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Three Men and A Chick Flick," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests in pop culture, relationships and personal style. WE tv is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 60 million homes.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and two FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.