Showtime Networks’ PR pros were named PR Team of the Year at the CableFAXIES Awards luncheon held today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C, where CableFAX: The Magazine (sister publication of PR News) presented its awards saluting cable TV’s best in marketing and PR. Other prominent winners on the PR side of the awards were Russell Howard, SVP, communications, National Geographic Channel, and Annie Howell, SVP, communications & public affairs, Planet Green, Discovery Communications; both were named PR Execs of the Year.
Headed by EVP Richard Licata, Showtime’s team was recognized for its memorable work in promoting both established hits like Weeds and drumming up anticipation for new material like United States of Tara. Russell Howard has overseen the consistent success of the National Geographic Channel for many years with the help of keen brand marketing and tight-knit staffing. Howell, a veteran of Discovery Communications, was noted for the successful launch of Planet Green this past June.
View the electronic version of CableFAX: The Magazine's 2009 CableFAXIES Awards issue.
Following is a complete list of CableFAXIES Award winners and honorable mentions:
PR Team of the Year
Winner – Showtime Networks
PR Execs of the Year
Winner – Russell Howard, SVP, Communications, National Geographic Channel
Winner – Annie Howell, SVP, Communications & Public Affairs, Planet Green, Discovery Communications
Honorable Mentions:
• Jim Weiss, VP, Public Relations & Public Affairs, Gospel Music Channel
• Katina Arnold, VP, Communications, Sales & Marketing, International & New Technologies, ESPN
• Theano Apostolou, SVP, Publicity, Talent Relations & Promotional Events, AMC
• Richard Licata, EVP, Corporate Communications, Showtime Networks
• Richard Ramlall, SVP, Strategic External Affairs & Programming, RCN
Marketer of the Year
Winner – Guy Slattery, SVP, Marketing, A&E Network and BIO
Honorable Mentions:
• Katie Lacey, SVP, Marketing, ESPN
• Bill Bergofin, SVP, Marketing, Versus
• Kenetta Bailey, SVP, Marketing, WE tv
• Denise Conroy-Galley, SVP, Marketing & Research, Outdoor Channel
Marketing Team of the Year
Winner – NBC Universal for ‘An Unbelievable Year at NBC Universal’ Affiliate Marketing Team for the TV Networks Distribution
Advertising Campaign for a Network
Winner – Big Ten Network/Tom, Dick & Harry Advertising for the 2008 Football and Basketball Campaign
Honorable Mentions:
• ABC Family for A New Kind of …ABC Family Branding Campaign
• Fuse for Music Is…
Advertising Campaign for a Single Program
Winner – A&E Network for Gene Simmons Family Jewels Season 3
Honorable Mentions:
• ABC Family for The Secret Life of the American Teenager
• Cablevision S.A. de C.V./Mediamates/Pico Adworks Mexico for Mujeres Asesinas (Assassin Women Mexico)
• Discovery Communications/Animal Planet for Whale Wars Series Launch Campaign
• ESPN for ESPN’s SportsCenter AM Live Campaign
• Gospel Music Channel for Gospel Dream Bus Tour Presented by Comcast
• IFC for Z Rock
• A&E Network for The Andromeda Strain
Direct Response Marketing
Winner – Charter Communications for Membership Acquisition Campaign
Honorable Mention:
• Charter Communications for Charter Price Guarantee 2009
Integrated Marketing Campaign
Winner – The Weather Channel for When Weather Changed History Season 2
Honorable Mentions:
• Big Ten Network/Tom, Dick & Harry Advertising for the 2008 Football and Basketball Campaign
• Cox Communications for 2008 Wave 3 Cox Business Acquisition Campaign
• Charter Communications for Charter Digital Transition 2009
Marketing Campaign
Winner – A&E Network for A&E Brand Repositioning Campaign
Honorable Mentions:
• BBC America for BBC World News America
• Time Warner Cable Los Angeles Region for Time Warner Cable L.A. Hispanic Video Launch
• Spike TV for Star Wars on Spike TV
• Cartoon Network/Turner Broadcasting for Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall Launch
• A&E Network for Gene Simmons Family Jewels Season 3
Marketing of a New Series or Show
Winner – Discovery Communications/Animal Planet for Whale Wars Series Launch Campaign
Honorable Mentions:
• ABC Family for The Secret Life of the American Teenager Series Launch
• BBC America for Primeval
• Cartoon Network/Turner Broadcasting for Star Wars: The Clone Wars Series Launch
• IFC for Z Rock
• Big Ten Network for Big Ten Network Illinois Football: The Journey Begins
Marketing of a Continuing Series
Winner – BBC America for Robin Hood Season 2
Winner – Oxygen for Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood
Honorable Mentions:
• AMC and NMA Entertainment & Marketing for Mad Men Season 2
• Sundance Channel for Iconoclasts Season 4
• World Wrestling Entertainment for WWE McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania Promotion
• ABC Family for The Secret Life of the American Teenager Season 2 Launch
Multicultural Marketing
Winner – Time Warner Cable Los Angeles Region for Time Warner Cable L.A. Hispanic Video Package Launch
Honorable Mentions:
• CNN for CNN Presents: Black in America
• TuTV for Noches Clasicas De Pelicula
Marketing of a Documentary or Special Series
Winner – A&E Network for The Andromeda Strain
Honorable Mentions:
• Big Ten Network for Big Ten Network Illinois Football: The Journey Begins
• Cartoon Network/Turner Broadcasting for Turkey, Stuffing and “RickRolls” for all our “Friends” at Thanksgiving
• CNN for CNN Heroes
Trade Show Marketing and PR
Winner – Fuse for Fuse Upfront Bash ’08
Honorable Mentions:
• Comcast Entertainment Group for G4’s CES Best of the Best
• Gospel Music Channel for Gospel Music Channel—NCTA 2008
• Outdoor Channel for Are You Ready for the Big Time? CTAM Stunt
• Qubo for Qubo Channel Playground
Video: Use of Video or Moving Image
Winner – WWE for Presidential Candidate Videos on WWE Monday Night Raw
Honorable Mentions:
• Visible World for Household Addressability
• Outdoor Channel for Outdoor Channel Ad Sales Sizzle Reel
• Qubo for Qubo Channel Spot
• Charter Communications Wisconsin for Ribbon of Promise Wisconsin Campaign to Prevent School Violence
• ABC Family for ABC Family Upfront Sizzle
Viral Marketing Campaign
Winner – The Sportsman Channel for Cable Best Friends Forever
Honorable Mentions:
• BBC America for Skins
• CMT for Gone Country 3
• Discovery Communications/Animal Planet for Groomer Has It Series Launch
• A&E Network for What Happened in Piedmont
Community Relations
Winner – Big Ten Network for Support Local Flood Relief: Make a Difference with Mediacom, Big Ten Network, Fox Cable Networks and University of Iowa
Honorable Mentions:
• Discovery Communications for Science Matters!
• Retirement Living TV for Countdown to Conversion: Digital Transition Education Initiative
• WWE for WWE Smackdown Your Vote!
• Cox Communications Las Vegas for Violence in our Schools—A Prescription for Our Community
• Time Warner Cable for Time Warner Cable Trivia Thursdays
Annual Report
Winner – Liberty Global for Liberty Global’s Summary Annual Report
Honorable Mention:
• The Cable Center for Cable Center Annual Report
Corporate Social Responsibility/Green Campaign
Winner – Big Ten Network for Big Ten Network Iowa Flood Relief Fundraiser
Honorable Mentions:
• A&E Network for The Recovery Project
• Outdoor Channel for Get Out and Vote PSAs
• The Sportsman Channel for Hunt. Fish. Feed
Media Event
Winner – CNN for CNN Grill
Honorable Mentions:
• ABC Family for Winter Wonderland
• Discovery for Planet Green Launch Media Event in Los Angeles
• ESPN for ESPN’s 2008 Upfront Event
• Hallmark Channel for Hallmark Movie Channel HD Launch in Peoria
• National Geographic Channel for Dog Whisperer 100th Episode Celebration
Media Relations Campaign
Winner – Discovery Communications for Planet Green Launch
Honorable Mentions:
• ESPN for NASCAR on ESPN
• National Geographic Channel for Expedition Week
• Bravo for Real Housewives of Atlanta
• History for 102 Minutes That Changed America
• IFC for The IFC Media Project
• ABC Family for Secret Life of the America Teenager
Press Kit
Winner – ESPN for NASCAR on ESPN
Honorable Mentions:
• Showtime Networks for United States of Tara
• Showtime Networks for Dexter Season 3
• National Geographic Channel for Human Footprint
Programming Stunt
Winner – Comcast Entertainment Group for FEARnet’s Halloween Campaign
Honorable Mentions:
• Starz Entertainment for I Know Who Killed Me
• ABC Family for 25 Days of Christmas
• Discovery for Science Channel’s ‘Punkin’ Chunkin 2008’
• Retirement Living TV for Daily Café from the AARP Convention Floor
• Comcast Entertainment Group for Style Network’s Raise Your Hand and Make a Difference in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness
PR Stunt
Winner – A&E and NMA Entertainment & Marketing for The Andromeda Strain Decontamination Chamber
Honorable Mentions:
• BBC America Robin Hood Season 2
• Cartoon Network/Turner Broadcasting for Turkey, Stuffing and “RickRolls” for all our “Friends” at Thanksgiving
• Outdoor Channel for Are You Ready for the Big Time? CTAM Stunt
• Starz Entertainment for I Know Who Killed Me
• Oxygen for Welcome Home! Tori & Dean
Public Affairs Campaign
Winner – IFC for The IFC Media Project
Honorable Mentions:
• Discovery, Science Channel and Comcast for Science Matters!
• Insight for Digital Transition Awareness Campaign
• Lifetime Television for Every Woman Counts
• The Sportsman Channel for Hunt. Fish. Feed.
• WE tv for WE Vote 2008
• Retirement Living TV for Countdown to Conversion: Digital Transition Education Initiative
Best Tchotchke
Winner – ABC Family for 25 Days of Christmas Office Decorating Kit
Honorable Mentions:
• Big Ten Network for Election Buttons
• Discovery Communications for Science Channel’s Punkin’ Chunkin 2008
• International Networks for Bridging Cultures 2009 Calendar
• Vozzcom for Guerilla Tactics for Trade Show Branding Success