New York, NY, January 14, 2009 – Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, the programming subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC), announced today that Ed Carroll has been promoted to chief operating officer of Rainbow Entertainment Services. He will continue to report to Josh Sapan, president and CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
Carroll, who has been president of Rainbow’s national entertainment services since December 2004, has operating responsibility for Rainbow’s national entertainment networks AMC, IFC, WE tv and Sundance Channel. During Carroll’s tenure, Rainbow’s national networks have enjoyed significant growth in ratings, distribution and advertising.
"Ed has that rare combination of creativity and business acumen, and has been a key architect behind the recent original programming successes across our networks, particularly at AMC and WE tv," said Sapan. "His great instincts, proven leadership skills and depth of knowledge about the industry have made him an invaluable member of my team and I look forward to Ed continuing to expand on Rainbow’s success."
Carroll is widely credited with building some of television’s most popular brands and overseeing the development of some of cable television’s most successful original programming, including "Mad Men," "Inside the Actor’s Studio," "Bridezillas," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Dinner for Five." Under Carroll’s tenure as president, Rainbow’s national networks have garnered numerous industry accolades, which include two Golden Globe Awards as well as 12 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Television Drama for AMC’s "Mad Men," making AMC the first basic cable network ever to receive that honor.
Carroll has held a number of positions at Rainbow including executive vice president and general manager of IFC from 2002 to 2004, and general manager of Bravo from 1997 to 2002, before it was sold to NBC in 2002. He first joined Rainbow Media, the parent company of Bravo Networks, in 1987 and worked in public relations for American Movie Classics (AMC) and Bravo. In 1992, he was promoted to director of marketing at Bravo and went on to become senior vice president of marketing.
Carroll was honored with the Vanguard Award for Young Leadership by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) in 2002. He is a member of the Cable Advertising Bureau (CAB) and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM). Carroll is also a frequent lecturer at New York University’s Stern School of Business Administration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Political Science from the State University of New York at New Paltz.
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, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its 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.