NEW YORK, NY, September 23, 2009 – Sundance Channel announced today the appointment of Shari Weisenberg to the position of senior vice president of marketing, effective immediately. Weisenberg joins the network from SyFy where she was vice president of strategic marketing. The announcement was made by Sarah Barnett, executive vice president and general manager, to whom Weisenberg will report. Barnett vacated the top marketing position in April when she was tapped to lead the network.
As Sundance Channel’s senior vice president of marketing, Weisenberg will oversee all strategic and creative marketing campaigns for the linear network as well as its online and on demand platforms. She will also develop and implement key brand messages as they relate to consumers, affiliates and sponsors.
"We are thrilled to welcome Shari to Sundance Channel," said Barnett. "Her expertise in creating brand-defining campaigns that resonate with audiences and build viewership will be a huge asset for the network as we continue to develop high-quality original programming. Shari also has a real talent for leveraging and maximizing branded entertainment opportunities that will help lead the network to the next level."
In her previous role, Weisenberg led SyFy’s sales marketing initiatives and played a major role in the network’s recent rebranding from SciFi. Under her direction, the sales force developed integrated sales packages and unique sponsorship opportunities across multiple platforms. Weisenberg conceived and launched SciFirst, a movie franchise which offers studios a chance to showcase exclusive scenes from sci-fi and comic book-based films. She also expanded the network’s October horror-programming stunt "Thirteen Days of Halloween" to "31 Days of Halloween," which boosted ratings and doubled the network’s revenue and sponsorships. Her efforts helped boost SyFy to its status as a top-five primetime destination among A25-54.
Prior to joining SyFy, she served as director of marketing for Bravo, where she was responsible for the development of British Airways’ integrated partnership of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which earned Mediaweek’s Media Plan of the Year award; Macys’ sponsorship of Project Runway and Sears’ sponsorship of Top Chef. Before that, she served as marketing director for CNBC. Weisenberg also served as senior vice president, business development for the digital agency, thoughtbubble, where she consulted for a variety of entertainment brands such as AMC, CNN, IFC, Showtime, Columbia Tri-Star, Miramax, New Line, Sony, Warner Bros and Roadrunner.
About Sundance Channel
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, imaginative and uncompromising, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel’s website address is www.sundancechannel.com.
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.