EXCLUSIVE: A month after Debra O’Connell was promoted to go of Disney’s Networks Group, she has restructured the division, giving extra obligations to 2 trade veterans from the 2 sides of the Disney-Fox merger.
FX’s Chuck Saftler and Disney Channels’ Sean Cocchia have been handed expanded obligations as a part of the transfer, which was outlined in an inner memo Tuesday afternoon.
O’Connell stories to Kareem Daniel, who was lately named chairman of Disney’s Media and Leisure Distribution phase as a part of the corporate’s broader restructure.
Saftler, who was beforehand president of programming technique and COO for FX Networks, will now head up enterprise operations for ABC and Freeform in addition to the Fargo community. He’ll lead enterprise technique, P&L, viewers technique and reporting/measurement, in addition to working with the Hulu crew and main library and second-run acquisitions for its channels. Saftler is longest tenured FX worker, having joined the community in Dec. 1993 as Director of Scheduling, seven months previous to the launch of FX.
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Cocchia, who was previously EVP Enterprise Operations and General Supervisor, Disney Channels, will head up Enterprise Operations for Disney and Nationwide Geographic Channels and Franchise Administration for its portfolio of networks. This implies he might be answerable for enterprise technique, P&L, viewers technique and reporting/measurement, in addition to working with the Disney+ crew.
O’Connell, who was beforehand president and normal supervisor of WABC-TV, the nation’s most-watched native station, stated the strikes will enable the corporate to be “more nimble” in a altering enterprise.
There aren’t considered any departures within the enterprise operations divisions as a part of the reshuffle. Wendy McMahon will proceed as president of ABC Owned Tv Stations Group, whereas David Miller will proceed as EVP and General Supervisor of Nationwide Geographic Media, which is answerable for the pure historical past model’s print and digital publications.
O’Connell is predicted to substantiate management of two different areas within the coming weeks: ESPN Networks Enterprise Operations and Disney’s Industrial Advertising groups.
Learn the memo under:
Pricey crew,
I’m writing to substantiate extra particulars about our Networks Group inside our Disney Media & Leisure Distribution group (DMED). I want to thank everybody — leaders, stakeholders and content material companions — who I’ve met with over the previous three weeks; your enter has helped us to start charting our course ahead. I might additionally prefer to thank these groups who will be part of our group; you may be crucial to our success and you may anticipate to listen to extra from me and the leaders named under within the coming weeks.
As Kareem outlined in his latest notice, our group is answerable for the operational management and P&L oversight of the Firm’s home linear tv channels, in addition to enterprise planning, community / channel industrial advertising, and viewers technique for a number of the finest stations and networks within the trade: our ABC broadcast community and eight ABC Owned stations, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ESPN Networks, FX Networks, Freeform and Nationwide Geographic Networks.
As you all know, the tv enterprise has skilled extra change up to now couple of years than within the final decade – and whereas the panorama is altering dramatically, there’s additionally super alternative. By intently integrating the enterprise elements of every of those linear channels, we will be extra nimble in how we anticipate and navigate this modification whereas strategically propelling the enterprise ahead. Working intently with Disney’s inventive content material groups, we are going to collaboratively decide content material necessities and programming budgets for every of the channels, whereas additionally main our acquisition technique for second run and library content material throughout our portfolio of channels in partnership with our streaming providers.
Right this moment, I’m happy to announce the organizational construction for DMED’s Networks group, which consists of confirmed leaders from throughout completely different groups:
Chuck Saftler will broaden his scope past FX Networks to go up Enterprise Operations for ABC, Freeform and FX Networks. He’ll lead enterprise technique, P&L, viewers technique, and reporting/measurement, in addition to interfacing with the Hulu crew. Moreover Chuck will lead library/2nd run acquisitions for our portfolio of networks. Chuck beforehand served as president of programming technique for FX Networks.
Sean Cocchia will head up Enterprise Operations for Disney and Nationwide Geographic Channels and Franchise Administration for our portfolio of networks. On this position, he might be answerable for enterprise technique, P&L, viewers technique, and reporting/measurement, in addition to interfacing with the Disney+ crew. Sean beforehand was EVP, Enterprise Operations and normal supervisor, Disney Channels.
Wendy McMahon will proceed to guide the ABC Owned Tv Stations Group, having chief administration accountability for the eight ABC owned tv stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno. On this position, she may even proceed to be answerable for native/regional information in these markets together with expertise growth, content material technique & programming and group engagement.
David Miller will lead the enterprise operations features of Nationwide Geographic Media which incorporates the P&L, technique, and subscriber expertise for the print and digital experiences of our iconic magazines.
I stay up for confirming management of two extra crucial features within the coming weeks: our ESPN Networks Enterprise Operations and our Industrial Advertising groups.
I’m assured that when the complete management crew is in place we might be strongly positioned for ongoing success. It’s an honor to have been tasked with main this spectacular crew and I’m excited for us to get to work.
May you all have a contented Thanksgiving vacation. Whereas it may appear and feel completely different this 12 months, I hope you could find a number of moments to attach with these you maintain pricey and share some moments of gratitude.
All the very best,
Debra
