Friedman Exiting As Ion Distribution Chief

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Ion Media Networks distribution president Steve Friedman is exiting that post, but will remain an advisor on multichannel distribution.

John Lawson, executive vice president of the company, has been named to head up a new "integrated distribution" effort that will include relationships with broadcast affilliates, multichannel operators, and Washington.

Lawson came to Ion last year from the Association of Public Television Stations. John Heffron remains Ion's senior VP, affiliate sales.

Ion has been trying hard to build distribution for its networks, including looking for help from Washington to gain carriage on cable for a proposed new African-American targeted network in concert with BET founder Bob Johnson.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.