Newly Created Division To Oversee Comcast's Entertainment Properties - E! Entertainment Television, Style Network and G4
Comcast Names Ted Harbert President, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, today announced that E! Networks' President and CEO Ted Harbert has been promoted to President, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group, a new division established by Comcast to oversee the company's West Coast entertainment properties that currently include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network and G4. Neal Tiles will continue to serve as President of G4.
"Ted is an experienced leader with television sensibilities that are unmatched," said Jeff Shell, President of Comcast's Programming Group. "He has expertly guided and grown E! and Style over the past two years and I am thrilled that Ted will have the opportunity to further develop these three great brands."
Said Harbert, "I am delighted to have this rare opportunity to lead a female, male and broad appeal business and I am sure it will be an exciting challenge. In addition to collaborating with my talented executive teams at E! and Style, I look forward to working with Neal and the G4 team as we build on the success they have achieved to date."
Harbert will assume his new role effective immediately, while consolidation to Comcast Entertainment Group is expected to be completed in 2007.
Longtime television executive Ted Harbert first joined E! Networks in summer 2004. Since then, Harbert has led the executive team that oversees the ongoing growth and development of the company's flagship network - E! Entertainment Television, now in 89 million homes - as well as the fast-rising lifestyle channel Style Network. He also supervises new media operations for video on demand, satellite radio and wireless content and is responsible for directing the activities of the Web's most successful entertainment destination, E! Online, and the broadband channel The Vine @ E! Online. In early 2006, Harbert unveiled E! Everywhere - E!'s ambitious multi-platform content and distribution initiative designed to translate E!'s brand power into new forms of content delivery that service the target audience.
Prior to joining E!, Harbert served as a producer at 20th Century Fox Television. He previously was President of NBC Studios, with responsibility for the development and production of all NBC-owned programming for all dayparts, and was a television producer for DreamWorks SKG. Harbert spent the first 20 years of his career with ABC, ultimately serving as Chairman of ABC Entertainment. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Boston University, Harbert is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board of the USC School of Theater, Film and Television, a Board member of the USC School of Cinema-Television's Television Advisory Council and the Executive Committee of Boston University's School of Communications. He also serves on the Board of Governors of UCLA's Center for Communication Policy and the Board of Directors for Friends of the L.A. Free Clinic, and is a past President of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.
Neal Tiles joined G4 in September 2005 as President and dedicated himself to developing the network into the premiere, multi-faceted, multi-platform destination for men 18-34. Tiles raised G4's profile significantly by revamping the network's original production slate including "Attack of the Show!," "Icons," and "Filter," and introducing the highly rated interactive series, "Star Trek 2.0," which adds interactive elements to the classic series. Under Tiles' leadership, G4 has been the fastest growing network on television for 2006, enjoying 15 consecutive months of year-over-year household ratings growth. Additionally, G4 has doubled its primetime rating for each quarter of 2006 as compared to the same quarters in 2005.
Tiles has also increased awareness of G4 with high-profile acquisitions, including "Arrested Development," and the upcoming "Spaceballs: The Animated Series," based on the classic Mel Brooks feature film. The network also has become a leading player in the multi-platform programming space and is currently the #1 podcasted network in the country and a leader in VOD. Earlier this year, G4 completely re-launched its Web site, including the streaming broadband channel, The Pile.
Prior to joining G4, Tiles was Executive Vice President, Marketing for DIRECTV, Inc., responsible for developing and executing all elements of customer communications for the satellite operator.
Previously, Tiles was with FOX Sports as Senior Vice President, Marketing, from 1997 to 1999, and Executive Vice President, FOX Sports Marketing Group, from 2000 to 2003. Tiles earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising/Marketing at Syracuse University.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 23.3 million cable customers, 10 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.6 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Versus, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
About E! Networks
Based in Los Angeles, E! Networks is the world's largest producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming. The company operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment; Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable and inspiring lifestyle programming, and E! Online, located at Eonline.com. E! is currently available to 89 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the United States. Style Network currently counts 43 million subscribers. Internationally, E! programming can be seen in more than 120 countries worldwide, reaching 600 million homes. In addition to its ventures for locally programmed E! branded channels outside the U.S., the company operates the E! International Network, a 24-hour English language global entertainment channel available via satellite in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Earlier this year, E! launched the E! Everywhere initiative underscoring the company's dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere -- from online to broadband at The Vine @E!Online to wireless to satellite radio to VOD.
About G4
G4, the fastest growing network on television for 2006, launched in April 2002 and is now available in 59 million cable and satellite homes nationwide. The #1 podcasted cable network in America and a leader in VOD, G4 targets the male 18-34 audience and is the first and last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity, and "internet culture." The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and is owned by Comcast Corporation.