Lifetime Networks Names Two of Television's Leading Marketing Executives, Lew Goldstein and Bob Bibb, as the Company's Co-Chief Marketing Officers

Lifetime Networks Names Two of Television's Leading Marketing Executives, Lew Goldstein and Bob Bibb, as the Company's Co-Chief Marketing Officers

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- In her first executive appointment since becoming Lifetime Networks President/CEO in April, Andrea Wong has named two of television's most respected and honored marketing executives, Bob Bibb and Lewis Goldstein, as the company's Co-Chief Marketing Officers, effective immediately.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/NYTU070 )

An executive team for more than 20 years since partnering for the launch of the Fox Television Network, the award-winning Goldstein and Bibb have recently served as consultants at Lifetime. The two were instrumental in leading the successful launch of the smash hit drama "Army Wives." The most watched series in the network's 23-year history, "Army Wives" currently ranks as the #1 cable drama among W18-34, while averaging 3.6 million total viewers.

In making the announcement, Wong said: "This is a huge coup for Lifetime. From their remarkable careers spanning the start-up of two young-adult networks, Fox and The WB, Bob and Lew have become synonymous with innovative marketing techniques. This was once again demonstrated by their contributions to the tremendous success of 'Army Wives.' I am confident that these two consummate team players, with their creative vision and outstanding record of success in marketing to women, will strengthen the Lifetime brand by making it more vibrant, contemporary, and empowering."

Said Bibb and Goldstein: "These past few months working with the group at Lifetime has been an immensely gratifying experience, especially teaming again with Susanne Daniels, whose great series we had the honor to launch at The WB. Both Andrea and Susanne have shared their unique vision for Lifetime and we're delighted to come aboard full-time to help bolster this powerful media brand."

Bob Bibb and Lew Goldstein

Bibb and Goldstein are the first U.S. marketing executives to have launched and built two broadcast networks: Fox and The WB. Their partnership began at NBC in 1985, where Bibb was Director, Special Projects, Movies & Miniseries Promotions, and Goldstein was Director, Special Projects and Comedy Series Promotion. In 1986, they joined News Corporation to become the first creative marketing heads of the Fox Television Network. During their six years at Fox, they helped grow the network from a weekend service to a major challenger to the "big three," while establishing the network's attitude and identity, which has been a hallmark of its success. In 1994, Bibb and Goldstein were recruited to help develop a fifth U.S. broadcast network, The WB. Launched in January 1995, the upstart network quickly became known for its young, upscale and predominantly female audience. The duo was promoted to Co-Presidents of Marketing in June 2001, overseeing an in-house agency.

Among their accomplishments during their 11-year tenure were guiding the launch of such iconic series as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity," "Gilmore Girls," and "Smallville" into the top positions among their young adult target demos by establishing awareness and brand strength. They built 19 primetime series into syndication franchises, more than any other U.S. or cable network within a decade.

Bibb and Goldstein have been honored many times over for their groundbreaking approach to television marketing and innovative strategies including Advertising Age's "Entertainment Marketers of the Year" (2003), Broadcasting and Cable's "Brand Builders of 2003," Brandweek's "Marketers of the Year," (1999) and the Promax/BDA Pinnacle Award in 2000, which is the discipline's highest honor.

Bibb and Goldstein will be based in Lifetime's Los Angeles office.

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. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including LifetimeTV.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070821/NYTU070
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Source: Lifetime Networks

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

Web site:

http://www.lifetimetv.com/

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