Heymann Leaving Biography Channel

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A&E Television Networks veteran Tom Heymann will vacate his position as senior vice president and general manager of A&E Network spinoff The Biography Channel at the end of the year.

Heymann, who has run the 40 million-subscriber network since 2001, has steadily increased its ratings and prominence, especially over the past year.

Biography’s second- and third-quarter 0.3 primetime household rating was the highest ever for the network, and its exclusive distribution of former A&E original-series staple Biography has helped to attract new and younger viewers to the service.

AETN executive VP and GM Bob DeBitetto, to whom Heymann reports, will take over the day-to-day operations of Biography, according to executives at the channel.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.