Univision Communications Inc. said it has hired Eric Ratchman as executive vice president, content distribution. He joins from The Walt Disney Co., will be based in New York and reports to Tonia O’Connor, chief commercial officer and president of content distribution for UCI.
“Eric has more than a decade of experience in global content distribution strategy and business development. His background and expertise will add tremendous value as we continue to expand UCI’s growing portfolio of brands accessible anytime, anywhere,” O’Connor said in a release. “Eric will play an integral role in evolving our relationships with both new and longstanding distribution partners and will be instrumental in negotiating critical distribution agreements for UCI’s stations, networks and content.”
Ratchman most recently served as senior vice president of global distribution strategy and business development for Disney Media Networks. Notably, during his tenure at Disney, he negotiated the first carriage of Disney’s networks on an OTT basis with SlingTV, Univision said. Before joining Disney in 2005, Ratchman worked at Accenture and Abbott Laboratories .
Univision recently signed new distribution agreements with Atlantic Broadband and Mediacom Communications but has an ongoing tiff with AT&T over U-verse carriage. Univision stations and networks are back on U-verse while the two sides continue negotiations.
