Anne Sweeney, the former co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, has joined Netflix’s board of directors.
Anne Sweeney, who is stepping down as co-chair, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, early next year, used her keynote interview at Mipcom to explain her reasons for leaving the Mouse House. Sweeney said that she had decided that, as her contract was up for renewal, that what she wanted to do next would be on the creative side.
At a conference in London, outgoing Disney honcho Anne Sweeney discusses the “creative transformation” rather than “creative destruction” of television and comments on the company’s acquisition of Maker Studios.
Anne Sweeney’s successor will take on a slew of responsibilities, from overseeing ABC Studios and the Disney channels to heading the ABC Family and Disney’s interest in A&E Networks and Hulu. But the most obvious problem for the Disney-ABC Television Group is the flagship network’s ratings.
After 18 years at the Walt Disney Co., Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, will be stepping down at the end of her current contract in January 2015 to pursue a career as a TV director.
Disney’s Anne Sweeney and TV producer I. Marlene King talk about how the online conversation is transforming the creative process.
Exclusives
Sweeney On Aereo: ‘Opportunistic Piracy’
ABC chief Anne Sweeney slammed Barry Diller’s Aereo online TV service on Wednesday. “It’s opportunistic piracy,” she said. “With all due respect [to Diller], it’s taking advantage of our content.” Sweeney made the remarks during an onstage interview at the AllThingsDigital conference, where Diller had appeared earlier in the day.
Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group, says that TV is about to become the most personal medium in the world, as well as the most powerful. Giving her MIPCOM keynote speech in Cannes this afternoon, Sweeney predicted that TV will be ever more customized by a generation used to watching on smartphones, laptops and tablets.
ABC, Affils Set Up Straight Swap Of Ad Time
WSB Atlanta GM Bill Hoffman, who’s also the chairman of the ABC Affiliates Board, explains the third phase of the ad inventory exchange between ABC and the affiliates. Unlike the earlier two parts of the program, this will involve no cash changing hands. Hoffman says this and other cooperative arrangements illustrate a desire of the network’s management to work toward win-win solutions.
