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Carole Black Appointed as President and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Carole Black, a veteran television executive and former President and General Manager of NBC4 in Los Angeles, has been named President and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services. Black will oversee the day-to-day operations of the premier provider of women's programming, including marketing, advertising sales, affiliate sales, new media, research, programming, strategic planning, and operations. Lifetime Entertainment Services is a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company. Black's appointment is seen as a strategic move to lead Lifetime into the next millennium.

Key Takeaways:

  • Carole Black has been appointed as President and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
  • Black will oversee the day-to-day operations of Lifetime Television and the recently launched Lifetime Movie Network.
  • Black's experience as President and General Manager of NBC4 in Los Angeles has prepared her to lead Lifetime into the next millennium, says Anne Sweeney, President of Disney/ABC Cable Networks and Co-Chair of Lifetime.
  • Under Black's leadership, NBC4 achieved unparalleled success, rising from second in the marketplace to a dominant number one in the Southern California area.
  • Lifetime Television is dedicated to providing contemporary and informative programming for women and is available on more than 11,000 cable systems and alternative delivery systems nationwide, serving over 73 million households.
  • Black will lead the network to prosper further as the primary place for women's programming and information, according to Raymond E. Joslin, President of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication and Co-Chair of Lifetime.
  • Black was the first woman to head a commercial station in the Los Angeles marketplace and has a proven track record of success in marketing, sales, and operations.
  • Prior to her appointment at NBC4, Black held various senior positions at the Walt Disney Company, including senior vice president, marketing, television.
  • Black currently serves on the Board of Directors of HRTS (Hollywood Radio and Television Society) and NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives).

Statistics:

  • Lifetime Entertainment Services is a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
  • Lifetime Television is available on more than 11,000 cable systems and alternative delivery systems nationwide.
  • Lifetime serves over 73 million households.
  • NBC4 in Los Angeles rose from second in the marketplace to a dominant number one in the Southern California area under Black's leadership.
  • NBC4 became the first station to win seven out of seven weekday and weekend news races in a sweeps period in 1998.
  • NBC4 was the top billing station in 1996, 1997, and 1998, with the last three years being the most profitable in the station's 50-year history.

Sources:

  • ENTERTAINMENT WIRE, February 15, 1999
  • Robert Iger, President of ABC, Inc.
  • Frank A. Bennack, Jr., President and CEO of The Hearst Corporation
  • Anne Sweeney, President of Disney/ABC Cable Networks and Co-Chair of Lifetime
  • Raymond E. Joslin, President of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication and Co-Chair of Lifetime

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