Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal and Comcast are among the top companies for female employment, according to The WICT Network’s recent PAR workplace diversity study.

The 2022 Top Companies for Women to Work survey named five operators and five programming companies as places that feature strong gender diversity, as well as  equity and inclusion efforts based on pay equity and advancement opportunities and resources for work/life integration, according to The WICT Network. Other operators highlighted in the survey include Cable One, Charter Communications, Cox Communications and Midco, while A+E Networks, AMC Networks, and Revolt were named on the programming side. 

“We congratulate this year’s PAR Top Companies for Women to Work for their exemplary DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] practices,” The WICT Network president and CEO Maria Brennan said. “The data tells the story: Despite the challenges our industry has faced over the last three years, companies have created environments where women are able to grow and thrive. We applaud the commitment of time and resources each of our participants dedicated to complete the 2022 survey.” 

The survey results follow increases in female employment across the industry revealed in the 2022 AIM/PAR Workplace Diversity Study, released last month in conjunction with The WICT Network Leadership Conference and the NAMIC Conference. The survey reported that female representation in the workforce increased by 5 percentage points compared to the last survey in 2019, even as women overall were significantly more impacted by the pandemic in terms of employment.

The survey also reported a decline in workforce representation among people of color. 

Brennan told Multichannel News she was pleasantly surprised by the gains women made in the workplace as part of the AIM/PAR survey. “Given the losses that women suffered during the pandemic, it was the opposite inside our industry,” she said. “I have great hopes for the next time we do the survey.” ■   

AMC Networks reported higher first-quarter net income as subscription revenues rose, but ad revenue declined.

AMC has been touting the growth  of its streaming services. The company said it remained on track to meet its projection of having 9 million subscribers by the end of the year, but did not give a specific figure for the end of the quarter.

CEO Josh Sapan called streaming the company's "most significant growth area" and said paid subs could reach 20 million to 25 million by 2025. At that point, streaming would represent the company's largest revenue segment, he said.

First quarter net income was $87 million, or $2.02 a share, compared to $68.7 million, or $1.22 a share, a year ago. Operating income was down 1.9%.

Read Also: AMC Plus Launches on YouTube TV

Revenue fell 6% to $691.7 million.

Revenue for AMC’s domestic operations, which now include the company’s streaming service, fell 6% to $574 million and operating income decreased 4% to $216 million. Marketing expenses supporting AMC’s streaming services increased.

Subscription revenue was up 14%, driven by what the company called “robust” growth in streaming revenues, but offset by a low-single digit decrease in affiliate revenue. The drop was called by subscriber universe declines.

Advertising revenue fell 7% to $199 million. The company blamed the timing and availability of original programming caused by COVID-related production delays. 

“AMC Networks had solid performance in the first quarter and we are on course to meet our 2021 financial and streaming targets, including reaching at least 9 million paid subscribers by year end. The transition of the company to be the worldwide leader in targeted streaming on the strength of our focused, strong content continues on track,” Sapan said. 

“The support of our distribution partners for our streaming efforts and our advanced advertising strides are providing us with both stability and momentum. We believe the high viewer engagement, efficient economic model, and pricing power of our streaming offerings provide us with important strategic advantages which, when coupled with our valuable linear channel offerings, will fuel our growth and continue to position us very well over the near and long term,” he said. 

AMC Networks named Christina Spade as executive VP and CFO, effective immediately,  continuing a shakeup in its executive lineup.

Read Also: AMC Puts Severance Costs at $20-25 Million

Spade was previously  CFO for ViacomCBS and succeeds Sean Sullivan, who stepped down as AMC’s CFO in October.

At AMC, Spade will oversee financial operations, investor relations and global technology for the company’s cable networks and streaming services. She reports to CEO Josh Sapan.

Read Also: AMC Puts WE tv, UMC Under GM Brett Dismuke

“Chris is an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of the media business and an impeccable track record driving strong financial and operational results,” said Sapan. “With her significant business transformation experience, Chris will be a strong addition to AMC Networks’ management team as we continue to reshape our company, accelerating our efforts to advance our streaming business while continuing to create the world-class content for which we are known.”

Read Also: AMC Networks Launches Five Vizio SmartCast Channels

According to a filing with the SEC, Spade will receive a minimum annual base salary of $1.15 million and a lump-sum cash bonus of $50,000. She will also be eligible for an annual  bonus worth 150% of her annual base salary and will participate in the company's long-term equity and other incentive programs. Her employment contract expires March 31 2024.

Spade became CFO at ViacomCBS after the the merger of Viacom and CBS. She had been CFO at CBS and CBS’s Showtime Networks unit before that.

"AMC Networks has built a strong portfolio of distinct brands that are synonymous with high quality,” said Spade. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the AMC Networks team to build on the company’s long track record of innovation and success.”

AMC Networks said it has amended its employment agreement with president and CEO Josh Sapan that will keep him with the company through Dec. 31, 2022.

Also Read: View from the Top: AMC CEO Sapan’s Work-From-Home Watchword Is Overcommunicate

Sapan has been in charge of the company since 1995, when it was part of Cablevision Systems. The company was spun off in 2011.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sapan will have a minimum annual base salary of $2 million.

Also Read: AMC Networks CFO Sullivan to Leave Company

He will be eligible for a bonus that could be worth up to 200% of that base salary. He will also be able to participate in the company’s long-term equity and other incentive programs that could be worth not less than $14 million.

His title could change in 2022 to vice chairman, the filing said.

Last month, AMC said that it would incur severance costs of $20 million to $30 million during the fourth quarter as the result of reducing its staff by 10%, eliminating about 100 employees.

The company reported that third quarter net income fell 47% to $62 million, with revenue falling 9% to $954 million,

If you’re a streaming service focusing on horror, Halloween can’t come soon enough. So AMC Networks’ Shudder will be starting its annual 31-days of Halloween programming a month earlier this year.

Shudder’s “61 Days of Halloween” will feature original and exclusive movie premieres, a new The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs Halloween Special, a collection of Vincent Price films and a third burning of The Ghoul Log.

“We usually call October our ‘Super Bowl month’ but this year we’re starting on Sept. 1, so the 61 Days of Halloween will be our Super Bowl combined with Mardi Gras and Christmas. We start on day one with one of the biggest horror movies of the year, Nicolas Cage in Richard Stanley’s mind-bending Color Out of Space—no less than the best cinematic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft ever—and roll on through to Halloween with a big premiere every week. And then we’re going to finish October with a surprise that will have horror fans everywhere talking. ” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s general manager. 

Among the Shudder programming appearing during Shudder’s “61 Days of Halloween” are Color Out of Space, starring Nicolas Cage and Joely Richardson based on the H.P. Lovecraft short story; Verotika, a trilogy of erotic horror stories from Glenn Danzig; Scare Me, in which Aya Cash, Josh Ruben and Chris Redd tell horror stories that come to life; and season 2 of NOS4A2, which fans can binge. 

For the second year in a row, Shudder’s head curator, Samuel Zimmerman, will be offering callers live, personalized picks for what to watch over his Halloween Hotline.

Liquor marketer Diageo has come on board as sponsor of six new episodes of Bottomless Brunch at Colman’s, one of the digital series AMC Networks is shooting at its stars’ homes during the pandemic.

In each 20-minute show, Colman Domingo of AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, picks a themed drink and he and his guests all whip up the cocktail where they are and continue their socially distanced conversation.

Naturally, Diageo products are part of the recipe. 

For example, in one episode, Domingo makes one of his favorites, a Bulleit Bourbon Black Manhattan, for guests Kim Dickens, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Brett Gelman.

Other drinks featured in the search are a Zacapa Zegroni, a Ketel One Bloody Mary, a Don Julio Mojito, a Tanqueray French 75 and a Johnnie Walker Spritz Watermelon Splash.

Future guests include Jesse Williams, Taylour Paige, MJ Rodriguez, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Barry Jenkins and Julia Stiles.

“Some of our best and most honest conversations are had with friends over a cocktail and with the world a bit upside down right now, it’s something many of us are missing,” said Susan Jones, VP of Media at Diageo. “We trusted Colman and our partners at AMC to capture these moments – showcasing cocktail recipes, with brands such as Bulleit and Tanqueray, while highlighting responsible drinking, all in a way that resonates with the consumer.”

AMC originally did four episodes as part of an effort to create fresh content to keep fans connected to its shows.. When Bottomless Brunch proved popular, the series was renewed for six more episodes that will air on Sundays, starting August 23.

“We are thrilled to partner with Diageo on this incredible series that reinforces the togetherness that so many are craving during these unpredictable times. Bottomless Brunch is a balanced mix of humor and love, paired perfectly with a delicious Diageo cocktail,” said Kim Kelleher, president, advertising sales & partnerships, AMC Networks.

“This partnership is an excellent example of what AMCN’s Content Room does best – premium, authentic story building that connects audiences. We strongly value this relationship with Diageo and look forward to the success of this fantastic series,” Kelleher said.

Viewers can watch the episodes on Sundays on YouTube.com/TheWalkingDead as well as AMC.com and the Fear The Walking Dead Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Prior to his career as a writer, actor and director, Domingo worked in the service industry — and his love of bar and restaurant life has never left him.

“With so much going on in our world, I hope to bring a little light and levity into your homes,” said Domingo. “I love introducing friends to one another and getting to know them in a unique way. No better way than to bring you into my home and share a little of ourselves with you at home. Who doesn’t enjoy a good brunch? I’ve enjoyed brunch for hours! Ask my good friend Elaine Welteroth. We clocked in seven hours for a brunch. Let’s have some fun.”

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MICHAEL POWELL, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NATIONAL CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION

“Mediacom and Rocco are true leaders in our industry. Born out of risk-taking and entrepreneurism, Mediacom has grown into one of our fi nest multiple-system operators, providing to Americans in mid- and smaller-size markets an unsurpassed level of excellence in broadband, video, voice and business services. Rocco has been a passionate and stalwart advocate for cable, demanding that customers should come first, and that public policy should provide the incentives and the means for cable operators to innovate and serve their customers with high value offerings. On a personal note, there is no beer friend to have than Rocco, with his warm and gregarious demeanor and his undying support.”

TOM RUTLEDGE, CEO, CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS

“I have known Rocco for many years. He is a good friend and someone whose personal story would make for must see programming on many networks … not just CNBC. He is also the best thing besides money to come from the banking industry. Rocco has more belief in himself and the cable industry than anybody and his sheer will and guts created Mediacom, a great American success story.”

DAVID ZASLAV, PRESIDENT AND CEO, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

“Rocco is a true entrepreneur and has really lived the ‘American Dream’ after arriving in America as a kid. He worked hard to earn everything he has built at Mediacom. He has been a strong partner to me for the past two decades and one of the champions who has made this industry what it is today. He is a tough and respected operator with terrific financial acumen, a fighter who believes in his company, a company that 20 years later, he still runs with the passion he had the day he founded it.”

PHILIPPE DAUMAN, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND CEO, VIACOM

“Rocco is one of the true entrepreneurs in the modern distribution landscape — tenacious, engaged and passionate about his system and the smaller markets it serves. He’s also a quintessential New Yorker, with a well-earned reputation for being a straight talker. Viacom and Mediacom have had great success working together to grow our businesses over the years, and I have a lot of respect for Rocco and his accomplishments.”

JERRY KENT, FORMER CEO, SUDDENLINK COMMUNCIATIONS

“Rocco is not only a friend, he is a hero to the industry. There has been no champion for midsized and smaller operators more relentless or passionate than him. I count myself fortunate to have served as a cable entrepreneur alongside him.”

PAT ESSER, PRESIDENT, COX COMMUNICATIONS

“Mediacom is a great example of the American Dream coming to life and the broadband cable industry it helped build will continue to create opportunities for future entrepreneurs and innovators. Congratulations to Rocco and his team.”

JOSH SAPAN, CEO, AMC NETWORKS

“Rocco embodies the best of what is entrepreneurial and original, qualities that have contributed to the fabric and success of cable TV. His iconoclastic nature and his path less well traveled embody the spirit that makes Mediacom a great company and makes cable a great industry.”

DENNIS WHARTON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MEDIA RELATIONS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS

“Congrats to Rocco Commisso on two decades at the Mediacom helm. In exchange for modest carriage fees, broadcasters are proud to provide Mediacom customers with marquee primetime entertainment, the most popular televised sporting events, local news and emergency weather warnings that save lives. We wish Mediacom continued success.”