LAUREN ZALAZNICK NAMED PRESIDENT OF NBC UNIVERSAL'S WOMEN AND LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS
LAUREN ZALAZNICK NAMED PRESIDENT OF NBC UNIVERSAL'S WOMEN AND LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS
Adds iVillage to Her Current Portfolio of Bravo Media, Oxygen Media and Green is Universal
NEW YORK � May 7, 2008 --- Lauren Zalaznick has been named President, NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, effective immediately. Zalaznick had served as President of Bravo Media and Oxygen Media and also leads NBCU's environmental initiative, "Green is Universal." She continues to have executive responsibility for these areas and adds oversight of iVillage. The announcement was made today by Jeff Gaspin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group.
"Lauren brings a rare combination of creative energy and rigorous discipline to everything she does," said Gaspin. "She turned Bravo into a top ten network for women 18-49 with the most affluent, educated, and engaged audience in all of cable entertainment. And she's well on her way to working her same magic on Oxygen. She is uniquely qualified to lead iVillage and maximize the obvious synergies that exist between the website and our female-focused cable properties."
Deborah Fine, President of iVillage Properties, will report to Zalaznick.
Under Zalaznick's leadership, Bravo has broken numerous records and achieved unprecedented "firsts," including back-to-back best years ever in 2007 and 2006, along with a record-setting number of Emmy Award nominations and wins in 2007. Under her watch, Bravo has become the No. 1-ranked network for upscale, educated and engaged television viewers across all cable entertainment networks. Zalaznick also oversaw the launch of Bravo's suite of award-winning broadband services, including BravoTV.com, OUTzoneTV.com, BrilliantButCancelled.com, and TelevisionWithoutPity.com, resulting in record-breaking traffic in 2007.
In the first quarter of 2008, the first under Zalaznick's management, Oxygen had its most-watched quarter ever, with all the network's primetime original series reaching their highest ratings ever, and with the network's online destination, Oxygen.com, achieving triple-digit growth year over year.
Zalaznick also created and launched the "Green is Universal" initiative, establishing NBCU as a leader in raising "Green" awareness and activating consumers to protect the environment. Most recently, during "Earth Week" in April 2008, 42 NBC Universal brands and 28 websites generated over 100 hours of green-themed original programming, from the theme parks, to the movie studio, to the television division.
For more than a decade, iVillage has been the largest online community for women. In March 2008, iVillage's U.S. audience grew to 18.5 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. The site's ad revenue increased 20% in the first quarter of 2008.
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