New York, NY – April 15, 2009 – IFC has promoted Kent Rees to senior vice president of marketing. In his new role, Mr. Rees is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of the network’s marketing and brand development, for both on-air and print marketing. Rees’ former position at IFC was vice president of marketing and brand development. He reports to Jennifer Caserta, IFC’s executive Vice President and General Manager.
Rees will spearhead the strategy, planning, and execution of all on-air, online, print and on demand marketing content for IFC, as well as manage the evolution of the brand on all platforms through creative marketing and advertising strategies and initiatives.
"Kent has a proven track record for creating groundbreaking and fresh marketing that resonates with viewers," said Caserta. "His strong creative vision and ability to articulate the IFC brand on-air and in print, will continue to be an invaluable asset for IFC as the network continues to appeal to its core base of men ages 18-34 who are looking for irreverent, and original content."
Rees previously served as vice president of marketing at IFC. During this time, he was instrumental in developing the sponsorship and branded entertainment model that IFC uses today. He successfully launched the marketing campaign for the Indie Sex Docu-Series and many IFC Originals, such as Z Rock, The Business, and The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, for online, on demand, print, and on-air. Rees played a key role in redesigning and re-launching IFC.COM in February 2008.
In September 2008, Rees was instrumental in creating the IFC AUTOMAT which marked the first time in the network’s history that devoted an entire night of programming uniquely packaged to reach and increase IFC’s younger male audience. The AUTOMAT aggregates IFC’s most popular programs from all of our platforms-on-air, on demand and online-and presents this content in a radically different way, along side acquisitions and IFC Original programming.
Prior to joining IFC, Rees worked for Creative Service at Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, the parent company of IFC, where he led the reorganizing and revamping of the on-air look and feel of IFC. As a creative, Rees was an integral part of the promotion team that launched the reality hits, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette on ABC. Additionally, Rees also worked in on-air creative, for NBC, TBS, and ABC Family, among others. His career began working for on-air promotions at VH1, where he won several BDA Promax Awards, and was highlighted in AdWeek’s "Spot of the Week." While at IFC, Rees has been named one of Multichannel News’ "40 under 40" and has been appointed to the board of PROMAX.
About IFC
Operating under the mantra "always, uncut," IFC (The Independent Film Channel) recommends and creates genre-bending content that indulges the alternative culture obsessions of our influential audience and makes it available across multiple platforms: on-air, online and On Demand. In pursuit of what’s new, next and relevant, IFC creates original non-traditional comedies like The Whitest Kids U’ Know and Z RockThe IFC Media Project. IFC’s original programming airs alongside a comprehensive independent film library of award-winning titles and cult classics, as well as content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, culture and more. IFC broadens the audience for independent culture through its exclusive live coverage of notable film and music events like the Independent Spirit Awards and South by Southwest. The network’s On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC’s original series before they air on the linear network. IFC Media Lab Studios offers financing, professional development and distribution opportunities for aspiring film makers. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multiplatform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC (The Independent Film Channel), WE tv, Sundance Channel, IFC Entertainment and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading U.S. distributor of independent and foreign film with a unique day and date distribution model, "IFC In Theaters," that makes films available to a national audience by releasing them simultaneously in theaters as well as on cable’s On Demand platform; IFC Festival Direct features titles acquired from major international film festivals and initially offers them exclusively through On Demand; IFC Productions, a feature film production company; and IFC Center, a state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of NYC’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, an advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, a full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.