Comcast Corp. formed a new department to oversee advertising sales for Comcast-owned networks, naming E! Networks executive David Cassaro president of the new Comcast Network Advertising Sales unit.
Cassaro, formerly senior executive vice president of sales and distribution for E! Networks, will oversee ad-sales for E! Entertainment Television, Style, G4techTV, International Channel Networks and Outdoor Life Network.
Comcast said The Golf Channel’s ad-sales team will remain independent “due to the specialized, tournament-driven nature of its sales,” but Cassaro would collaborate with the network’s sales team.
It’s too early to gauge whether the creation of the new ad-sales department will lead to cuts at the sales teams of the individual networks, a Comcast spokesman said. There currently aren’t plans to consolidate affiliate sales at the networks, he added.
Cassaro will report to Amy Banse, executive VP of Comcast’s programming-investments division.
