Cathy Weeden Named to Run Sunshine Network; Former Sunshine Executive Returns Home to Assume Duties as Vice President and General Manager.Business & Sports Editors/Television & Sports Business Writers ORLANDO, Fla.--(BW SportsWire)--March 26, 2002 Cathy Weeden, currently the Vice President & General Manager of Fox Sports Net Arizona, has been named to the same position at Sunshine Network, Florida's largest and leading regional sports network In the United States of America, a Regional Sports Network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games , it was announced today by Bob Thompson, president of Sunshine Network and Fox Sports Cable Networks. She succeeds Jim Liberatore, who was named president of SPEED Channel in August 2001. Weeden, who will relocate to Sunshine's Orlando headquarters in the next few months, will be responsible for all aspects of the network's ongoing operations including programming, production, advertising sales, marketing and promotions, affiliate relations, media relations and administration. She will work closely with Sunshine's team partners including the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida, USA. It is a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). , Tampa Bay Buccaneers UCF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of providing highly trained personnel to support the Kennedy , the SEC and ACC. "Cathy's invaluable contributions and accomplishments at Fox Sports Net Arizona and with Sunshine Network over the years have established her as one of the nation's most creative sports television executives," said Thompson. "Her expertise, insight and ability to effectively oversee a myriad of evolving aspects of the regional sports television business are critical assets as Sunshine Network continues expanding its operations." "I worked with a talented staff at Fox Sports Net Arizona, and we achieved great success there," said Weeden. "However, this is a tremendous opportunity and I am delighted to be returning to my home state to run Sunshine. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and reacquainting myself with many old friends." Weeden returns to Sunshine Network after spending two years as head of Fox Sports Net Arizona. Since assuming her role in Arizona in December 1999, she helped the network establish itself in the Desert Southwest by delivering sports programming that's relevant to home town sports fans. During her tenure at FSN Arizona, which owns the exclusive cable telecast rights to the world champion Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. and Arizona State University Arizona State University, at Tempe; coeducational; opened 1886 as a normal school, became 1925 Tempe State Teachers College, renamed 1945 Arizona State College at Tempe. Its present name was adopted in 1958. , Weeden directed the successful launch of the ARIZONA SPORTS REPORT and helped the network achieve record ratings levels, among other accomplishments. From April to October 2001, Fox Sports Net Arizona was Phoenix' No. 1-rated cable network in prime time, with Diamondbacks telecasts setting a network ratings record (6.7). On Oct. 3, FSN AZ recorded the most-watched program in the network's history when the Diamondbacks/Rockies game scored an 11.1 rating. She also saw the network extend its rights agreement with Arizona State and created programming agreements with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Weeden was named one of the state's eight "Who to Watch" business leaders by Arizona Business Magazine in January. Weeden, a native Floridian, joined Sunshine Network's affiliate relations department eight years ago and was quickly promoted into various management roles during her tenure. After serving as the network's Director of Affiliate Sales and Marketing, she was named Assistant General Manager in 1996. Prior to joining Sunshine Network, Weeden served as an account manager at Curley & Pynn Public Relations in Orlando where her clients included Universal Studios, Hard Rock Cafe Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of casual dining restaurants. It was founded in 1971 by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, and their first Hard Rock Cafe opened near Hyde Park Corner in London, in a former Rolls Royce car dealerships showroom close to Hyde Park, where in 1979 they began to International and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is Florida's largest health insurance provider and plan administrator. The company is a member of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The nonprofit, Jacksonville-based Blue Cross and its subsidiaries serve more than 8. . Weeden graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in journalism and began her career as a public relations representative for Boardwalk and Baseball Boardwalk and Baseball was a theme park built in Haines City, Florida, United States, on the east corner of the intersection of US 27 and Interstate 4. It replaced Circus World at the same location, and was owned by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (now Harcourt, a division of Reed , a Busch Entertainment Group attraction which served as spring training home of the Kansas City Royals. Sunshine Network is Florida's largest and leading 24-hour regional sports network with 5.7 million homes and more than 15 teams/properties under contract. Sunshine Network is the Florida sports fans' first and only source for comprehensive coverage of sports in the Sunshine State. For further information on Sunshine Network, visit http://www.sunshinenetwork.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion