Bill Rosolie to Head Company-Wide Digital Ad Sales Efforts
Scott Collins Expands Current Role; Will Oversee AMC, WE tv and Wedding Central
New York, NY – November 22, 2010 – Rainbow Media today announced new roles for two of its top Advertising Sales executives. Bill Rosolie, formerly EVP, Advertising Sales for AMC, has been named EVP, Rainbow National Services, Ad Sales, a new position overseeing the growing digital advertising sales effort for Rainbow’s five national networks (AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central), as well as Direct Response. Scott Collins, formerly EVP, Advertising Sales for WE tv and Wedding Central, will expand his current role to include overseeing advertising sales for AMC. Both positions are based in New York and will continue to report to Arlene Manos, President, National Ad Sales for Rainbow Media.
Under Rosolie’s direction, AMC increased its advertising revenue 71% as the network implemented an original programming strategy that has included hit series Mad Men, Breaking Bad and most recently, The Walking Dead, which debuted to record ratings.
Since joining the Company in 2008, Collins has signed scores of new advertisers, including attracting advertisers in new categories, to both WE tv and Wedding Central, resulting in advertising revenue growth of more than 50%.
"Bill brings to this new position the right sales experience and business acumen to lead Rainbow into new areas of growth," said Manos. "Bill has an impressive track record of delivering consistently strong results at AMC and I look forward to having him work across the company to take advantage of tremendous new revenue opportunities, especially in the digital space."
"One of the industry’s most respected sales executives, Scott has consistently exceeded revenue goals at WE tv and has achieved great results at Wedding Central since the network’s launch last year," said Manos. "Under Scott’s direction, I’m confident AMC ad sales will continue to grow, especially as marketers recognize the value of the network as a home to premium television on basic cable."
"Bill and Scott are tremendous assets to the Company and I’m so pleased they are taking on these new roles, which are critical to continuing Rainbow’s growth and momentum," said Josh Sapan, Rainbow Media President and CEO.
In his new role, Rosolie will oversee the growing digital ad sales effort for all five Rainbow National Networks (AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central). He is charged with developing ad revenue opportunities for VOD as well as maximizing revenue opportunities with emerging initiatives such as Canoe.
Additionally, Rosolie will oversee the direct response and paid programming sales for all Rainbow Networks. He will be charged with driving revenue in this important category as well as developing interactive sales in this area.
Collins, in his new role, will be responsible for the advertising sales efforts for AMC, WE tv and Wedding Central. He is charged with the day-to-day sales operations for all three networks as well as growing the base of advertisers for each.
Rosolie has overseen AMC ad sales since 2006. He joined Rainbow Media in 2005 as senior vice president of ad sales for fuse (now owned by Madison Square Garden). Rosolie previously was senior vice president, director of advertising sales for the TV Guide Television Group, responsible for managing sales, ad marketing, research and operations teams for TV Guide Channel and TV Guide Interactive. Before TV Guide, Rosolie was at The Weather Channel, and he also spent seven years with Westwood One Radio Network where, as executive vice president, director of sales, he managed the sales department for the Westwood One, Mutual and NBC Radio Networks, comprised of more than 30 nationally syndicated programs. Rosolie earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Pace University.
Collins joined Rainbow Media as senior vice president of advertising sales for WE tv in January 2008. Before joining Rainbow, he was vice president of advertising sales for NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, where he led the day-to-day national sales for USA Network, SCIFI Channel, Sleuth and Chiller. Prior to NBC’s merger with Universal Television, Mr. Collins served as vice president of specials for both USA and SCIFI, representing miniseries and events such as Steven Spielberg’s Taken and Mark Burnett’s Eco Challenge. Earlier in his career, Mr. Collins worked at A&E Television Networks as an account executive for A&E and the History Channel. He also spent 11 years in television syndication at Eyemark /Group W as an account executive. Mr. Collins started his career in 1986 as a research analyst at Nielson Media Research.
About Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters, IFC Midnight and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.