Rainbow Network Sales Ups Two

Rounding out its new distribution team, Rainbow Network Sales has created a pair of new positions, elevating Todd Green to senior vice president of affiliate marketing and Judi Lopez to senior VP of the group’s Eastern region.

The new posts are part of a reorganization announced last December, which served to centralize all of the affiliate sales and marketing for AMC, The Independent Film Channel and WE: Women's Entertainment, as well as on-demand services Mag Rack and sportskool, under one unified department headed by RNS president Gregg Hill.

Last week, Rainbow extended broad-based affiliate deals with DirecTV Inc., EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network, Comcast Corp., Adelphia Communications Corp. and Mediacom Communications Corp.

In his new position, Green, who had been VP of national accounts and affiliate marketing since 2002, will oversee the strategic direction and implementation of affiliate-marketing and local-ad-sales activities.

Lopez -- who has been with Rainbow Media Holdings Inc. the past five years, most recently as VP, Eastern and Western regions -- is now charged with leading affiliate efforts throughout the Eastern region, with a particular focus on building the brand image of various Rainbow networks among local distribution executives.

The Green and Lopez appointments round out Hill’s new senior affiliate team, which includes Ed Palluth, senior VP, southern region; Lisa Schwartz, senior VP, national accounts and advanced services; and Kevin Granger, VP, strategic planning and operations.

“With the adoption of the centralized Rainbow Network Sales division, our focus in the year ahead is to provide our distribution partners, both nationally and regionally, with even greater value,” Hill said in a prepared statement.

“Our mission is concentrated on service by assisting our cable partners and leveraging the loyal followings and highly desirable demographics of each of the Rainbow networks,” he added. “Judi, Todd and the other members of our senior team will be key architects in maximizing the vision and potential of this new infrastructure.”