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AMC Networks redesigned the management of its entertainment networks and prompted BBC America's Sarah Barnett to oversee four channels focused on scripted programming: AMC, SundanceTV, BBC America and IFC.
David Madden, who joined Fox and AMC last year for Sundance TV, will oversee the programming of the four AMC channels, as well as oversee the AMC Studios wing. Linda Schupack, AMC's long-time marketing manager, will lead the marketing of the four networks as President of Marketing for Entertainment Networks.
This operation is described as a centralization of the company's business, which hosts five American cable channels and the growing activities of AMC Studios. As part of the merger of previously disparate units, AMC plans to lay off about 40 people when eliminating overlapping positions. This is a sign of the pressure on pure-play programming companies such as AMC Networks to remain profitable in this period of intense competition and soaring prices for top talent.
We TV, the fifth channel of the American group AMC, will continue to be managed by Marc Juris as president and CEO. We TV is outside of Barnett's group, partly because it focuses on non-scripted programming as a lifestyle channel. Juris will continue to report to AMC Networks Chief Operating Officer Ed Carroll.
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As president of Entertainment Networks, Barnett will continue to report to Carroll. Madden will report to Barnett on programming issues for the four channels and Carroll for studio operations. Rick Olshansky, president of AMC Studios 'operations, and AMC Studios' production president, Stefan Reinhardt, also report to Carroll.
The changes at AMC come a couple of weeks after Charlie Collier, longtime president of AMC, left the company to become entertainment CEO for the New Fox entity, which will emerge after 21st Century Fox finalized the Major asset sale to the company Walt Disney Co. Collier. it is easier, from an executive point of view, to centralize operations under Barnett.
"We're looking at the organizational structure since last spring," Carroll told Variety. "We have been looking for ways to centralize the progression so that we stay competitive and stay vigilant in the filters of our channel brand."
Carroll and Barnett noted that it has happened that CMA, SundanceTV, BBC America, and IFC executives have either made the same speech separately for a program or have reached agreements with similar partners. According to them, AMC will be more effective with pre-established programming decisions forwarded by Barnett and Madden.
"There is a clear advantage to marketing the four networks together," Barnett said. Variety. "We are doing more and more to use our weight across four distinct brands."
The redesign has been going on for months and was led by Jennifer Caserta, former director of IFC, who was named head of AMC's transformation in May.
"Consolidating these networks into a centralized management structure will also allow us to recognize efficiencies that will strengthen AMC Networks' competitive position as we move forward," said Caserta.
At IFC, Blake Callaway becomes executive director of the channel; He was appointed acting chief as a result of the Caserta promotion. Jan Diedrichsen will continue to oversee Sundance TV and the Sundance Now streaming service as Executive Director. Courtney Thomasma, one of Barnett's lieutenants, will be promoted to Executive Director of BBC America. Marnie Black will expand her public relations public relations monitoring to include BBC America and IFC, in addition to AMC and SundanceTV.
Barnett has been with AMC Networks since the acquisition of what was then Sundance Channel in May 2008. She was at Sundance as Marketing Manager and then became President and CEO. Under Barnett's eyes, SundanceTV has strengthened its profile with original series such as "Carlos", "Rectify", "Top of the Lake" and "The Honorable Woman".
Schupack is a 17-year-old AMC veteran who has led the marketing efforts behind "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," the two dramatic series that place AMC on the map as a focus of top-notch original series. range.
(Pictured: Sarah Barnett and David Madden)
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