NEW YORK, NY – June 8, 2017 – AMC and SundanceTV today announced that it has appointed Mac McKean as executive vice president of innovation, from the position of senior vice president of digital media. In his new role, McKean and his team are responsible for the development of future-focused multiplatform products, experiences and content for AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. McKean also directs the networks’ expanding consumer relationship management (CRM) efforts, and continues to oversee AMC and SundanceTV’s award-winning and market-leading digital and gaming initiatives.
McKean is based in New York and will continue to report to Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. AMC is home to some of the most popular shows on television including “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Better Call Saul,” and “Preacher.” AMC’s digital platforms are among the most popular, in terms of unique users, of any cable or broadcast network according to Comscore.
“AMC has enjoyed tremendous success in the digital, gaming and interactive space thanks in no small part to Mac’s and his team’s talent, hard work and creativity,” said Collier. “In addition to our growing digital businesses, Mac and his team are spearheading the development of innovative products and services that will allow us to best position AMC Networks to be the content creators and providers of the future.”
“Great storytelling is more important than ever, and it’s joined at the center of our business by viewers and fans,” said McKean. “As entertainment preferences and technologies change, I look forward to working with my team and colleagues across the networks to expand AMC and SundanceTV’s leadership in connecting fans to our indelible stories and characters.”
As senior vice president of digital media, McKean and his team led the overall strategy and operations for all of AMC and SundanceTV’s digital platforms including AMC.com, one of the Web’s top cable network sites, as well as digital content, applications, digital programming, TV Everywhere and mobile and video games. McKean has strategically developed AMC’s digital content and launched a variety of successful Web series, award-winning games, second screen experiences, apps and the network’s TV Everywhere initiative. These include AMC’s popular web series, Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 which was recently distributed online and broadcast on-air and the successful launch of the AMC app on AppleTV, Roku, Xbox and more. Under McKean’s leadership, AMC’s digital experiences and apps have garnered numerous Webby Awards, as well as many other honors. AMC Digital has also received multiple Emmy® nominations, including one for “The Walking Dead” in the category of Outstanding Interactive Program in 2013, and one for “Talking Dead” in the same category in 2015 and 2016.
McKean joined AMC in 2007 as vice president of digital media, and was promoted to senior vice president in 2011, expanding his role to SundanceTV in 2015. Before joining AMC Networks, McKean was vice president of video programming at iVillage, which was acquired by NBC Universal. Prior to that, he was part of the early team that developed the startup Elance.com (now Upwork.com), which has been widely recognized for its innovation and was a Web 2.0 trailblazer. He has also held other online-focused roles including executive producer of TIME Online at Time Inc. and editor and produced several interactive initiatives for The New York Times New Media Group. McKean began his career as a journalist, including various posts in Tokyo.
McKean earned his BA in Japanese Literature from the University of Michigan, Honors College and a master’s degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. McKean’s interactive video work and art installations have been exhibited in various galleries and art events.
Recent digital initiatives include the rollout of a suite of popular network video apps for AMC and SundanceTV, the launch of innovative mobile games such as “The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land” and “Into the Badlands Blade Battle” as well as VR short series for “The Walking Dead” and “Into the Badlands” and a range of serialized digital short stories and content for SundanceTV original programs such as “Rectify” and “Hap and Leonard.”
About AMC
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with “Mad Men” in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before “Breaking Bad” won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series “The Walking Dead” is the highest-rated series in cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last five years. AMC’s other current original drama series include “Better Call Saul,” “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Humans,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Into the Badlands,” “The Night Manager,” “Preacher,” “The Son” and the forthcoming “The Terror,” “Lodge 49,” “Loaded” and “McMafia.” AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like “Talking Dead,” “Talking With Chris Hardwick,” “The Making of The Mob,” “Comic Book Men,” “Ride with Norman Reedus” and “The American West.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
About SundanceTV
Since its launch in 1996, SundanceTV has remained true to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity and distinctive storytelling through unique voices and narratives found in the best independent films. From delivering critically acclaimed Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning television featuring some of the world’s most talented creators and performers, to showcasing some of the most compelling and iconic films across genres and generations, SundanceTV is a smart and thought-provoking entertainment destination. SundanceTV is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.; its sister networks include AMC, IFC, BBC America and WE tv. SundanceTV is available across all platforms, including on-air, online at www.sundance.tv, on demand and mobile.
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