ION Media Networks | Principles & Practices

by John Baldwin

Ion Media Networks’ Logo [1]

Corporate Headquarters

601 Clearwater Park Road

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone

(561) 659-4122

Website

http://www.ionmedianetworks.com/

Executive Team

Brandon Burgess

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Previously the head of Business Development at NBCUniversal, Brandon Burgess has guided ION Media Networks through a complete reversal—financially and operationally—since its re-branding in 2006. Under his leadership, ION Media Networks has expanded drastically, which is no easy feat for any independent television network company in the US. Also during his tenure, ION Television has seen unprecedented growth, and he has played a significant role in launching Qubo and ION Life [2].

Chris Addeo

Marketing

Chris Addeo is the head of multiple areas of marketing, including Consumer, Sales, Distribution and Corporate Marketing. She is also responsible for developing ION Media Network’s strategic brand [3].

Douglas Holloway

Distribution

Douglas Holloway maintains cable, satellite and telephone company partner relationships for each of ION Media Networks’ brands. He also oversees a distribution team in several areas across the US [4].

Jeff Quinn

Finance

As the director of the office of Finance, Jeff Quinn sets the financial policy and direction of ION Media Networks. He is credited with establishing ION’s Financial Planning & Analysis Group and also oversees business planning, development, and budgeting [5].

A Brief History

In February 2006, the company formerly know as Paxson Communications—founded in 1984—announced a change to its current name, ION Media Networks. The rebranding of Paxson Communications was done in an effort to create a fresh corporate identity which would reflect its commitment to providing consumers with high-quality media content by distribution to its network of television stations nationwide [6]. Today, ION Media Networks upholds that same commitment.

In 2008, ION Media Network’s primary television network was also re-branded, and has since gone by the name of ION Television. After the network’s re-branding, its reach expanded to about 260 million Americans in 100 million households. Its viewership doubled as well, and it reached the top 15 cable ratings in the United States in only 3 years, an extraordinary feat in American television history [7].

About

ION Media Networks is a privately owned, independent TV company, officially formed in 2006. The company’s main goal is to lead innovation in television content and technology, as well as provide a wide variety of entertainment to consumers. With the help of its three main branches—ION Television, Qubo, and ION Life—it serves well over 100 million homes in the United States [1]. In addition, ION Media Networks is a partial owner of Dyle, a mobile content service which was created through a joint venture involving a few other television companies [8].

ION Television

ION Television’s New Logo [9]

ION Media Networks’ flagship television network, ION Television, is a leading entertainment network in the US. In fact, it stands within the top 15 networks among adults 25-54. ION Television relies on a combination of high-quality syndicated programming such as Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, Cold Case, House, and Leverage, as well as original programming such as Flashpoint and WWE Main Event. In addition, it carries many popular movies of a wide variety of different genres [1].

Qubo

Qubo’s Logo [10]

Qubo is a television network for 5 to 8 year olds. With a combination of original programming and outside partnerships with organizations such as the US Olympic Committee and Reading is Fundamental, Qubo promotes literacy and a healthy lifestyle for kids. Qubo refuses to air national ads which feature unhealthy food and beverage choices in an attempt to reduce obesity rates in children. This network is available 24/7 on Cable, Satellite, AT&T UVerse and Verison FiOs, and it also airs programming blocks on NBC, ION Television, and Telemundo [11].

ION Life

ION Life’s Logo [12]

ION Life is a digital sub-channel of ION Television, dedicated to healthy living. It carries a vast array of entertaining shows aimed at inspiring people to live healthy, active, and overall better lives [1]. ION Life provides programming 24/7 and is available via Cable, Satellite and Telco carriage [13].

Dyle

Dyle’s Logo [14]

Dyle is a mobile television service which allows users to view digital broadcast television. It carries channels such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Qubo, Telemundo, and Univision, as well as some local broadcast channels which are not officially affiliated with Dyle mobile television. Unfortunately, like most television providers, it is not available in all markets [15].

Recent News

In 2010, ION Media Networks along with 11 other major broadcast television companies developed Dyle through a joint venture known as Mobile Content Venture, or MVC for short [8]. On April 3, 2013 it was announced that Dyle mobile television would be on display at NAB in the Las Vegas Convention Center [16].

In January of 2012, ION Media Networks alongside PMC announced ENTV as a new business partner, which launched a premium YouTube Channel to distribute entertainment news. ENTV provides YouTube viewers with breaking stories in the entertainment world directly from reliable sources such as Deadline.com, HollywoodLife.com, and TVLine.com [17].

In October of 2012, ION announced a long-term partnership for ION Television’s to be carried on DIRECTTV nationwide. The agreement ensures that ION Television will be available to DIRECTTV subscribers for years to come, and now in high-definition as well [18].

On March 4 of 2013, ION Television excitedly announced the launch of a multi-tiered business-to-business campaign. The campaign targeted at advertisers introduces IONTHUSIASTS, a digital representation of ION Television’s viewers. Alongside this announcement was the news that ION Television had a new logo and graphics package [19].