Int'l TV muscle
Col TriStar taps 4 to shore up division
Paul Presburger has been named VP, business affairs and acquisitions; T.C. Schultz, veep, international networks; Don Meek, veepee, channels marketing and sales development; and Mark Santo continues with expanded responsibilities as VP, creative services, for the division.
Growing importance
The expansion of the international channels units at several of the Hollywood studios is emblematic of the growing importance of foreign pay services to the majors' global strategies.
Presburger, who joined Sony Pictures Entertainment as senior legal counsel in 1994, will spearhead the acquisition of TV and movie product for Sony's satellite and cable networks worldwide. He reports to George Leitner, senior VP, international networks, CTIT.
In his new position, Schultz will set up and implement operational structures for the launch of channels worldwide. He most recently served as a broadcast consultant to SBS, the Disney-backed satcaster in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. He too reports to Leitner.
Overseeing marketing
Meek, who joins from Fox Sports Net, will be responsible for the overall marketing efforts of the division's channels and for developing advertising sales strategies. He reports to Rachel Wells, senior VP, international marketing, CTIT.
Santo joined the division last year as VP, creative services, having had Emmy Award-winning experience implementing NBC's on-air promo campaigns. Santo has played a key role in the development of the on-air brand identity of AXN, Sony's recently launched action channel in the Far East. He reports to Meek.
Channel investments
SPE's series of channel investments began three years ago with the HBOle partnership in Latin America, and now includes Sony Entertainment TV in India, Viva in Germany, several ventures in Australia as well as the AXN action channel throughout Asia.
