Burly Bear taps NFL marketing vet

Handler joins college entertainment p'grammer

By PAULA BERNSTEIN, ANN DONAHUE

Former NFL exec Howard Handler has been appointed to the newly created position of CEO at Burly Bear Network, a leading developer of original entertainment programming for the college audience.

Handler will be responsible for all elements of the business, including programming, marketing, business development and sales. Burly Bear, owned and operated by Lorne Michael's Broadway Video, distributes content via the nation's largest college cable television network, the Internet, live events and radio.

"Howard brings strong creative and managerial skills to the venture and is a visionary in brand development," said Clifford Friedman, senior managing director of Constellation Ventures and a Burly Bear board member.

Constellation Ventures recently led a consortium of investors in a $10 million round of financing for Burly Bear. The capital infusion is earmarked for development of the company's broadband entertainment site and marketing Burly Bear's on-air, online and on-campus initiatives.

Marketing background

As senior VP of marketing, NFL Properties, Handler launched several business assets including NFL Insider magazine and the NFL Shop direct/e-commerce business.

Prior to joining the NFL, Handler was senior VP of marketing at MTV, where he helped develop "Beavis & Butt-head," "The Jon Stewart Show" and "The Real World." He also played a central role in the development of the "Choose or Lose" voter awareness campaign and was involved in the launch of MTV Latino and MTV Asia.

Handler was previously VP of marketing at Broadway Video.