December 1, 2008

CableFAX: 17. Interventionist: Abbe Raven

Abbe Raven
Title: President/CEO, AETN
Last Year: #36
Age: Still in the demo
Education: Buffalo U, BA; Hunter College, MA

Why Her? Seen in 145 countries, the AETN brand has been almost completely revamped during Raven’s 3-year tenure as president/CEO, what with series like Intervention, Dog the Bounty Hunter and Ice Road Truckers. Unquestionably the brand is younger, and Raven’s big gamble paid off when A&E renewed The Cleaner, the net’s first foray in more than 6 years into scripted series. The addiction/intervention-themed drama averaged 4.2mln total viewers (3 telecast cume) and 2.2mln 18-49s in prime, making it A&E’s top series in 18-49 and 25-54. And just when you thought History had abandoned history, it premiered an outstanding 9/11 special 102 Minutes That Changed America that grabbed 5.2 mln viewers for its premiere, and the stock of former school teacher Raven rose yet again.

Proud Moment: A&E gathered 5K people to cross the Brooklyn Bridge in Oct, touting that addiction is a treatable disease.

Year Ahead:
A&E celebrates its 25th anniversary with big plans for new series The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze. Uncertainty about the star’s battle with cancer remains.

Favorite Food: Ice cream

Favorite Restaurant: Fig & Olive, NYC

Drink of Choice: Pear Martini

Favorite Show Not On My Network: Entourage

Last Book Read: Candace Bushnell’s One Fifth Avenue

Favorite Part of My Job: Turning kids onto History

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