Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Welcomes William J. Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Holdings, Inc. Crown Media Family Networks as New Honorary Trustee
McLean, VA (PRWEB) November 20, 2013 -- The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is pleased to announce its newest Honorary Trustee, William J. Abbott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Crown Media Holdings, Inc., Crown Media Family Networks. Abbott oversees a team of seasoned executives who manage the day-to-day operations of all facets of the Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movie Channel, including programming, marketing, ad sales, communications and media relations, distribution, finance, legal, and digital initiatives.
“This is a great honor and I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to work with AWM, an organization that strives to empower women across the media sector,” said Abbott.
Abbott is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of leadership experience in family television, the past ten of which have been at Crown Media Family Networks. Under Abbott’s stewardship, Hallmark Channel has cemented its position as the leading destination for quality family-friendly entertainment on cable, including an ambitious slate of original content including daytime lifestyle programming, movies, and specials, as well as the recent development of the network’s first scripted series for primetime, Cedar Cove. In the course of Abbott’s tenure, the channel has also become home to some of television’s most beloved classic series, including Frasier, Golden Girls, Happy Days, I Love Lucy, and The Brady Bunch, which perfectly complement its original programming. Abbott also oversaw the launch and unprecedented growth of sibling network Hallmark Movie Channel, which is currently in nearly 53 million homes and continues to expand on its original programming slate each year.
“The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation’s Honorary Trustees are a key element of our Foundation’s depth and strength,” Board of Directors Chair Kay Olin. “We look forward to working with Mr. Abbott along with our other Honorary Trustees to help lead our organization, industry and media professionals into the future.”
Crown Media Family Networks joins the following existing Honorary Trustees in supporting AWMF: David J. Barrett, Hearst Television Inc.; Caroline Beasley, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.; Doug Franklin, Cox Enterprises, Inc.; Patrick Gottsch, Rural Media Group; Mark Gray, Katz Radio Group; Carol Hanley, Arbitron, Inc.; Marjorie Kaplan, Discovery Communications; Erik Logan, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network; Michael Powell, National Cable & Telecommunications Association; Abbe Raven, A+E Networks; Sir Howard Stringer, Sony Corporation of America; and Dennis Swanson, FOX Television Stations.
For more information, visit http://www.allwomeninmedia.org.
About the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM): The Alliance for Women in Media advances the influence and impact of women in all forms of media. AWM is a diverse community – whether type of media, job or global location – that facilitates industry-wide collaboration, education, and innovation. Established in 1961 as American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), AWM is the longest-established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment. AWM harnesses the promise, passion and power of women in all forms of media to empower career development, engage in thought leadership, and drive positive change for our industry and societal progress.
About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation: The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint-initiatives with the National Middle School Association, the Emma Bowen Foundation, the American Red Cross and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. The Foundation also supports Empowering America®, an initiative which pays tribute to many of America’s most pioneering and inspiring women. Through this program, the Foundation provides Empowering America® educational collateral to needy urban middle schools around the country. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, a live gala that honors exemplary programming created for, by, and about women.
Diana Cummins, Alliance for Women in Media, +1 (703) 506-3290, [email protected]
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