Disney Names Rich Ross President at Disney Channel

Disney Names Rich Ross President at Disney Channel

Rich Ross has been named to the newly created post of President, Entertainment, Disney Channel, a division of the ABC Cable Networks Group, it was announced today by Anne Sweeney, President, ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channel Worldwide, to whom Ross reports.

His appointment is effective immediately. Ross oversees all creative development, programming and production for Disney Channel, a top 10 basic cable television network designed for kids and families that currently reaches 79 million subscribers. Departments he oversees are programming, production, scheduling, marketing, advertising, promotion, on-air promotion and channel directed online activities.

Ross recently added the duties of overseeing the new kids' programming block on ABC Family, a basic cable channel with 84 million subscribers. The fourteen-hour a week programming block, featuring classic and new episodes of "Power Rangers," premieres Saturday, March 2.

"Rich has done an exceptional job of building and leading the talented team at Disney Channel, one that continues to make the cornerstone of our business unit profitable and strong," said Sweeney. She continued, "This promotion is in recognition of his ongoing contribution to the company, his tremendous strength as an executive and the expansion of his responsibilities as we build the new ABC Family kids block."

Ross was most recently General Manager and Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, Disney Channel. He was promoted to that post in August 1999. He joined Disney Channel in September 1996 as Senior Vice President, Programming and Production. His leadership elevated Disney Channel to one of the top five highest rated networks in basic cable and the top prime time television destination for tweens (kids age 9-14).

Ross oversaw the development of Disney Channel's critically acclaimed, learning-based programming block for preschoolers, Playhouse Disney, which has since become the centerpiece for a Walt Disney Company-wide initiative to introduce preschoolers to Disney characters, programs and products through learning-based entertainment. Core Playhouse Disney shows are the hit animated series "Stanley"; "The Book of Pooh"; the multi-Emmy Award-winning "Bear in the Big Blue House"; Emmy and Parents' Choice Award-winning "Rolie Polie Olie"; Disney's "PB&J Otter"; and "Out of the Box."

In addition, Ross directs the development of programming that falls under Disney Channel's popular award-winning programming block for older kids and tweens, Zoog Disney. Deemed "TV You Do," the block extends the TV viewing experience to an online component where users can create their own experience utilizing Disney Channel's on-air content as a springboard. Current series under that banner include the runaway success, "Lizzie McGuire" (which has inspired a Walt Disney Pictures feature film for release next year); the NAACP Image Award-nominated "The Proud Family"; "Even Stevens"; and "Bug Juice," as well as the highly rated and critically acclaimed Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, which includes the Humanitas Award-Winning "Miracle in Lane 2"; "The Color of Friendship"; "Brink!"; "Zenon"; "Halloweentown"; and "The Luck of the Irish."

Ross is based in the Burbank, California, headquarters of ABC Cable Networks Group. He is a native of New York and a 1983 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and English. He received his J.D. degree from New York's Fordham University in 1986. He resides in Los Angeles.

--posted February 8, 2002

Source: DIsney Channel Press Release