Mandy Sethi Appointed Director, Programming Operations for AMC & WE tv
New York, NY, August 24, 2006 – Rainbow Media announced today that Joshua Berger has been named Vice President of Programming Operations for AMC and WE tv. In his new role, Berger will lead the operations team, where he is responsible for executing both networks' programming strategies through managing the delivery, formatting, standards and practices, and quality control of AMC and WE tv's original and acquired programming. Berger will report to Tom Halleen, Senior Vice President of Programming and Scheduling for AMC.
"Josh has been a driving force behind-the-scenes at AMC and WE tv," stated Halleen. "Since joining Rainbow in 2003 and through the recent success of AMC's first original movie Broken Trail, Josh's consummate attention to detail and pursuit for excellence has placed him as a key contributor to the success of both networks. He is well deserving of this promotion."
Further strengthening the Programming Operations team, Berger announced today the promotion of Mandy Sethi to Director of Programming Operations for AMC and WE tv. "Mandy is a highly valued part of our team and a huge contributor to the continued success of these two networks," stated Berger. "Her experience and tireless commitment has enabled us to meet very challenging goals. I am sure that she will thrive in her new role."
Berger joined Rainbow Media in 2003 as Director of Programming Operations where he restructured the operations division to support the transition of AMC and WE tv into ad-supported networks. Since that time, he has been a key contributor to the record breaking successes across each network. He also served as the supervising producer for the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards broadcast on AMC. Before joining Rainbow Media, Berger was Director of Programming Operations and Production Management for MTV Networks International, where he oversaw worldwide distribution of programming, news and on-air promotional content for 42 MTV Networks International channels and third party broadcasters. In this role, he also contributed to the launch of MTV and MTV 2 Canada, MTV Japan and MTV Russia.
Sethi joined Rainbow Media in 2003 as Manager of Programming Operations for AMC and WE tv. Prior to joining Rainbow she worked for several years as a freelance production manager for the BBC, MTV, VH1, and AMC. Sethi started her career at MTV Networks International, where she was most recently Manager of Operations. While at MTV, Sethi was a key conduit between MTV U.S. and the international channels for their program operations, syndication, rights and clearances, and production management needs.
AMC and WE tv have experienced record breaking ratings this year, in part due to the original programming commitments across both networks. Bolstered by the success of AMC's first-ever original movie event Broken Trail, June and July 2006 ranked as the network's best performing months ever in primetime household and key demo deliveries. AMC is up +19% in rating and +20% in household delivery July 06 vs. July 05. For WE tv, the 05/06 season is pacing to be the best in their history in Prime M-Su 8p-11p delivery of HH, W18-34, W18-49, W25-49 and W25-54. To date in 05/06, WE tv has +278% more original telecasts during Prime M-Su 8p-11p than in the same time period during the 04/05 season.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research. July 06 M-Su 8-11p performance compared to previous monthly AMC performances April 2000 to date.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, Prime M-Su 8p-11p daypart average for Jun-06 05/29/06-06/25/06, Jun-05 05/30/05-06/26/05, Jun-04 05/31/04-06/27/04, Jun-03 05/26/03-06/29/03 and Jun-02 05/27/02-06/30/02 Live HH, Women 18-34, Women 18-49, Women 25-49, and Women 25-54 Audience during Prime M-Su 8p-11p. WE Originals based on Prime M-Su 8p-11p telecasts 04/05 STD 09/27/04-06/26/05 vs 05/06 STD 09/26/05-06/25/06.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE tv and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 88,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
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 59 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.