Lifetime Entertainment Services Names Lynn Picard to Newly Created Position of Executive Vice President, Interactive Entertainment

Lifetime Entertainment Services Names Lynn Picard to Newly Created Position of Executive Vice President, Interactive Entertainment

Picard Also Promoted to President of Ad Sales While Retaining Duties As General Manager, Lifetime Television

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring Lifetime Entertainment Services' expansion as the leading integrated electronic media company for women, Lynn Picard, a key architect behind the growth of its successful technological innovations, has been named to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Interactive Entertainment, it was announced today by Betty Cohen, President/CEO.

Picard, who has overseen the extraordinary success of the company's advertising sales for Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Real Women as Executive Vice President, Sales, has also been promoted to President, Ad Sales, Lifetime Entertainment Services while retaining her duties as General Manager, Lifetime Television, where she is responsible for interfacing with all departments within the company regarding the day-to-day operations of the network.

In her new role, Picard oversees development and launch of a diverse range of interactive offerings, from Lifetimetv.com, which averages nearly two million unique visits each month, wireless, broadband, and Lifetime Games along with a host of new platforms scheduled to begin later in 2006, along with cross-leveraging partnerships with advertisers.

Recent new technology initiatives spearheaded by Picard have included the launch of Lifetime's broadband offering Video Lounge, which streams behind- the-scenes clips of Lifetime's programming, and the multi-faceted "The Golden Girls" campaign, which has sold more than 30,000 wireless products based on the venerable sitcom.

"As Lifetime vigorously expands our position as the leading multi-platform provider of entertainment for women, Lynn's outstanding relationships with both colleagues and clients will serve Lifetime well as she navigates new business models and revenue streams for the innovative interactive content we have planned for our future. Those skills, along with Lynn's extraordinary record of accomplishment in her twin roles overseeing our prosperous ad sales department and the mother ship, Lifetime Television cable channel, made her the ideal person to assume this exciting challenge," said Cohen.

"With the interactive world growing exponentially and behaviors evolving to get content where and when you want it, whether on computers, in broadband, on cell phones and other mobile devices, Lifetime is developing more original content for those spaces and, therefore, more opportunities to connect our valued marketing partners with our loyal and passionate audience. I'm delighted at this opportunity to take the company to the next level," said Picard.

Lynn Picard

Picard was named General Manager, Lifetime Television, in 2003. In this role she supervises the day-to-day operations of Lifetime Television Network and also is responsible for all advertising sales for Lifetime Entertainment Services, encompassing Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, and Lifetimetv.com. As well, she is responsible for the cross- platform unit "Lifetime Partnerships" which integrates marketing and sales opportunities across the many Lifetime brands.

Previously she was Executive Vice President, Sales, Lifetime Entertainment Services, a position she assumed in August 1999. Under her leadership, Lifetime's ad revenues have more than tripled.

Picard joined Lifetime as Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales, in April 1994. Prior to that, she was Vice President, Business Development, for ESPN Networks. In that position, she was responsible for attracting new advertisers to ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN International. Picard joined ESPN in 1989 as an Advertising Sales Account Executive and was promoted to Vice President, Business Development in 1993.

Before that, Picard worked for the advertising agency Della Femina McNamee from 1983 to 1989, where she advanced from Media Planner to Vice President, National Broadcast. From 1980 to 1982, she worked as a spot buyer and supervisor at the advertising agency HBM/Creamer.

Picard was recognized for her business acumen in 1998 as one of Advertising Age's "Women to Watch" and subsequently named an Advertising Age "Media Mavens" in 1999. Currently, she serves in the boards of the International Radio Television Society and the Cable Advertising Bureau. She also serves as a Mentor in the Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT) Executive Mentoring Program.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Picard is a graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in consumer services and marketing.

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves more than 89 million households nationwide. In 1998, LIFETIME launched Lifetime Movie Network, now in nearly 50 million homes, and in 2001, Lifetime Real Women. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment, and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Source: Lifetime Television

CONTACT: Gary Morgenstein, +1-212-424-7162, morgenstein@lifetimetv.com

Web site: http://www.lifetimetv.com/

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