Ovation has hired Ellen Schned to head its distribution efforts.
The arts and culture network named Schned its senior vice president of distribution with responsibilities for growing its 40-million subscriber linear channel, launching its upcoming high-definition service and expanding its video-on-demand platforms.
Schned, who most recently served as senior vice president of affiliate marketing and distribution at CBS College Sports Network, will report to Ovation CEO Charles Segars and be basedat the company's Santa Monica, Calif. headquarters.
During her four years at CBS College Sports, Schned played an integral role in developing the network's NCAA March Madness Video on Demand Highlights package. Before that, she was senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing at Court TV.
Her resume includes entries as a Wonder Woman, selected by the editors of Multichannel News, and as vice president of government Affairs for Viacom in Washington, DC, where she helped lead the company's advocacy efforts before Congress, the FCC and the administration.
She began her career at the Federal Communications Commission as an attorney advisor in the Mass Media Bureau and the Office of Legislative Affairs.
"Ellen is joining Ovation at a pivotal time in the company's development," said Seagars in announcing her hire. "As an independent programmer, we face distribution hurdles that go beyond bandwidth limitations and require a skill set like Ellen's. With her proven track record in achieving substantial distribution growth, her creative strategic vision, and her regulatory and government relations experience, we really couldn't have found someone better suited to lead our distribution team."
Noted Schned: "I have been so impressed with the evolution and growth of Ovation the last several years. The channel really captures the vibrancy of the arts, with its contemporary and dynamic look and feel, which runs throughout its programming, marketing and advocacy efforts. It is a popular and important genre which plays a key role on channel lineups. I am excited to be working with a team of people who are creative, willing to try new things and as passionate about the arts category as I am."
