AMC Networks taps former Condé Nast lead for newly created advanced advertising role
AMC Networks has hired Evan Adlman for the newly created role of senior vice-president of advanced advertising and digital partnerships.
Evan Adlman joins as senior vice-president of advanced advertising and digital partnerships
Adlman will work with both the AMC Networks ad sales and programming teams as the network embarks on a broader digital-first transformation as its traditional TV business slows.
Adlman will oversee the digital partnerships, programmatic business and operations teams to spearhead the company’s go-to-market sales strategy, and partner with the programming team to develop new ways to serve content on new platforms.
Succumbing to the downward trend of TV spend, AMC reported a 3% decrease in income for its national networks division in the third quarter of 2019. As a result, AMC Networks chief executive officer Josh Sapan said the company is “strategically transforming” from a cable group to a “premier content company” focused on targeted video products delivered across different platforms.
“The underlying strategic priorities fueling our transformation have been and continue to be creating and owning great content and valuable IP, expanding our targeted direct-to-consumer services, maximizing the long-term value of our traditional linear business and diversifying our revenue by developing new avenues of content monetization,” said Sapan.
Adlman last spent nearly four years at Condé Nast. He most recently served as senior vice-president of enterprise sales, overseeing the company’s programmatic, data, video and agency partnership.
He will now report to Kim Kelleher, president of advertising sales and partnerships.
“Evan brings deep experience in technology-based sales, strategic marketing and a peerless understanding of programmatic advertising and adtech across a wide range of businesses,” said Kelleher. “We worked together closely at Conde Nast and I am thrilled that he has joined me here at AMC Networks, where he can apply both his extensive knowledge of the digital advertising ecosystem and his passion for great brands to the AMCN platforms, creating new and enhanced revenue opportunities across the portfolio.”
AMC Networks’ digital transformation also includes its entry into streaming. The company recently announced its collection of services – Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and Urban Movie Channel – have surpassed 2 million total subscribers.
The company also recently promoted Joshua Reader to the new role of president of distribution and development in part for his “keen understanding” of the future of media.