ION Media Networks, Inc. announced today that John Heffron will join ION as Senior Vice President of Networks Distribution. In this new position, which will be based in New York, Mr. Heffron will be responsible for distribution and affiliate relations for ION’s suite of programming networks.
“We are pleased to announce this very important addition to our affiliate sales group,” said Steve Friedman, President Networks Distribution, ION Media Networks. “John’s extensive background in the cable industry, excellent sales and marketing record and experience negotiating distribution agreements speak for themselves, and we are confident his presence will be felt immediately.”
In his position, which reports to Mr. Friedman, Mr. Heffron will be responsible for negotiating carriage agreements for ION Television, the company’s flagship broadcast network, and also distribution agreements for its digital networks, qubo and ION Life.
“I am very pleased to be joining ION at this important stage in the company’s development,” said Mr. Heffron. “ION Media Networks has carved out a unique position in the television business, and I am grateful for the opportunity to play a role in the future growth of the company.”
Mr. Heffron joins ION Media Networks from Univision Communications, the fifth largest television network in the U.S. and the country's leading Spanish-language television broadcast company, where he was Vice President, Affiliate Relations, Eastern Region. In that position, he was responsible for managing affiliate relations in a 20-state region for Univision and Galavision, as well as for the Network's online division, Univision.com.
Before that, Mr. Heffron was Director of Affiliate Sales and Marketing for Fox Sports Network, Northwest, where he was responsible for sales and marketing in a five-state region. Previously, he was Director of Affiliate Marketing for Fox News Channel, where he developed the marketing strategies for the start-up network. Mr. Heffron was Regional Director at NBC Cable Networks, where he was responsible for handling CNBC, MSNBC and NBC retransmission consent in a nine-state region, and he held various positions at American Movie Classics.
Mr. Heffron graduated from Purdue University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History.
About ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over 94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television currently features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television and CBS Television, among others. ION Media has also partnered with RHI Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide weekend primetime programming consisting of exclusive original programming and quality library titles. Utilizing its digital multicasting capability, the company has launched several digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with several leading media and entertainment companies, and ION Life, a television and multimedia network dedicated to active living and personal growth