Rural Media Group Hires Peter Clifford as Distribution SVP

Washington -- Rural Media Group said it has hired Peter Clifford as senior vice president of distribution. Clifford comes to RMG (parent of RFD-TV and FamilyNet) with more than 20 years of experience in affiliate distribution, marketing and digital media.

As an industry veteran with The Weather Channel, the Golf Channel and as SVP of distribution and affiliate marketing for the World Wrestling Entertainment, Clifford has a strong history of building strategic partnerships and expanding distribution for independent lifestyle and sports focused media companies, RMG said. A native of Fairfield, Conn., he founded his own consultancy company, Open Mind Media, in 2009 and effectively handled distribution and affiliate marketing of a half dozen high-end media clients, including AXS Networks.

“I see the great potential of Rural Media Group’s networks and I’ve been watching this company grow substantially over the years. Now is the right time to step in and take our networks to the next level,” Clifford said in a release. “I’m confident in the programming and the team RMG has assembled and I am ready to propel our networks forward through partnerships and expansion.” 

“To date, RMG’s networks have grown primarily as a result of our strong ratings and our passionate fan-base,” Steve Campione, COO and CFO of RMG, said in the release. “Now, as we more clearly focus our strengths on our distribution potentials, we are very excited to have Peter building our concerted distribution effort, which will bring RFD-TV and FamilyNet to new markets where there are millions of viewers who are actively seeking out our unique rural-themed and family-friendly content.”