Steve Raab will step up to the plate as president of SportsNet New York next month.
Beginning May 1, Raab will take over the top spot at SNY, assuming all day-to-day responsibilities for the regional sports network that is home to Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.
Raab, who had been serving as the network’s vice president of marketing and business development, will succeed Jon Litner, who last month was promoted to Comcast SportsNet president.
SNY, which launched March 16, 2006, is owned by the Mets through Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, Time Warner and Comcast and operated by the latter.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to leading SNY’s outstanding management team,” Raab said in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled with the success our network has achieved since our inception, and I am looking forward to continuing that growth by making SNY the pre-eminent regional sports network in the country.”
Prior to joining SNY, Raab was senior VP of marketing for ESPN Video Games in California, where he led the rebranding effort from Sega Sports. His resume also includes an entry as senior VP of sports marketing and programming for Turner Broadcasting System.
AP also reported Monday that Comcast SportsNet named Stephanie Lafair Smith to head Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and Jim Corno to lead Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Smith had been GM of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, and ditto for Corno at the Chicago RSN.
