Deborah Blackwell Named General Manager of SoapNet

Deborah Blackwell Named General Manager of SoapNet

Deborah Blackwell has been named General Manager of SoapNet, ABC Cable Networks Group's 24-hour soap opera channel, it was announced June 20th by Anne M. Sweeney, President, ABC Cable Networks Group and President of Disney Channel Worldwide.

"Deborah's wide-ranging experience in the entertainment industry, her expertise in online businesses and her leadership skills will bring the knowledge and focus that will take SoapNet to its next stage," said Sweeney. "Currently, in almost 10 million homes, SoapNet has performed beyond our original projections. In fact, SoapNet ranks No. 1 in prime time among all basic cable networks in the first quarter of 2001 with women 25-54 (1.5 rating) and No. 2 among women 18-49 (1.2 rating). With Deborah's vision and management expertise, we can expect SoapNet to deliver such numbers consistently."

"As the first and only 24/7 television source of soaps and soap opera information, SoapNet is reaching a vast audience that was previously underserved," said Blackwell. "This is another broadcast genre move to cable and I hope to deliver it to viewers with as great an impact as the news, movie and sports genres that have preceded it."

In her new position, Ms. Blackwell will be responsible for managing all day-to-day operations for the rapidly growing network. Ms. Blackwell will report to Sweeney.

Most recently, Ms. Blackwell spent two years in key leadership positions in new media, first as President of idealab's MyHome.com and then as Sr. Vice President, Media and Entertainment with noted Internet consultant Guidance, Inc. From 1993 to 1999, Ms. Blackwell headed up the television movie and mini-series packaging department at the William Morris Agency working with such clients as Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Dreyfuss, Danny Glover, Alec Baldwin and Drew Barrymore. She became an agent after rising from Director of Development to Sr. Vice President at Hearst Entertainment.

Ms. Blackwell is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Brown University.

-- Posted June 20, 2001

Source: Company Release