Comcast's Singer Will Join OWN
Discovery, SiTV Also Make Key Personnel Moves
by Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 11/2/2009 2:00:00 AM
Several cable networks announced personnel moves last week, including the hiring of a Comcast content acquisition executive to oversee multiplatform distribution for the upcoming OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
OWN, the joint venture of Discovery Communications and Oprah Winfrey launching next fall (reformating Discovery Health), hired Allan Singer as executive vice president of distribution and strategy, reporting to OWN CEO Christina Norman.
He will lead the content distribution and sales strategy for OWN. He comes to OWN from Comcast, where he served as senior vice president of content acquisition under executive vice president Matt Bond. Based in Los Angeles, he begins Nov. 2.
Singer's work at Comcast began in 2003 where, as senior vice president of programming investments, he managed the expansion of Comcast's network portfolio, including the acquisition of TechTV and the launches of TV One, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet West, SNY and PBS Kids Sprout. In 2006, he moved to Comcast's sports division as senior vice president of sports business development. Earlier, he worked at AT&T Broadband.
At another part of the Discovery realm, Lori McFarling was named chief marketing officer at Discovery Education and Domestic Distribution at Discovery Communications, reporting to Bill Goodwyn, president of Domestic Distribution and Enterprises.
As CMO, McFarling serves as the senior strategic marketing executive in charge of leading sales development, communications and sponsorship activities for the Discovery Education and Domestic Distribution divisions.
A 21-year Discovery veteran, McFarling most recently served as divisional marketing officer at Discovery Education, which provides scientifically proven, standards-based digital content and resources to classrooms and teachers nationwide. Earlier she was chief operating officer for Animal Planet and Discovery Kids Media.
Sí TV added two executives to its network affiliate team. Carla Lewis-Long is vice president of affiliate distribution, based in New York and reporting to Judi Lopez, senior vice president, content distribution & marketing. Armando Parra is manager, affiliate sales operations, based in Los Angeles and reporting to Berto Guzman, vice president of affiliate sales.
Lewis-Long most recently was senior vice president, affiliate sales & marketing, for AmericanLife TV. Before that she worked for Oxygen Network, as VP of national accounts, and she began her television network career at USA Networks.
Parra is a 13-year media veteran who will be responsible for VOD operational oversight, strategy, content scheduling and new business development. He had been manager, video on demand and new business development, for Playboy Enterprises.
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