WILLIAM J. ABBOTT

Executive Vice President, Advertising Sales
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel


Biography

    William J. Abbott is Executive Vice President, Advertising Sales for Crown Media Holdings, Inc., owner and operator of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.  He is responsible for the national advertising sales of the networks, including packaging, pricing and planning, their Internet services and developing digital networks.  Abbott oversees sales offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta and also directs the channels’ Ad Sales Marketing, Ad Sales Research and Traffic teams.  He reports to Henry Schleiff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Crown Media.

    At Hallmark Channel, Abbott is credited with increasing ad sales revenues and creating highly-customized packages for the channel’s roster of A-level sponsors.  Abbott and his team have positioned the channel well within the ad sales community where it is known for its high-quality family programming, continuous top 10 ratings and the longest length of tune among all ad-supported cable networks.

    In January 2004, Abbott launched the “Sponsorship Solutions Unit,” a revolutionary department that provides advertisers with unique opportunities to prominently showcase their message within Hallmark Channel programming.  One of the Unit’s most successful ventures to date is “movie entitlements.”  The entitlements allow advertisers to platform their brands and products in programming with a reduced commercial load that is proven to increase viewer engagement and length of tune.

    Abbott joined Hallmark Channel after serving as Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales, for Fox Family Worldwide where he was responsible for advertising sales  activity for  Fox Family Channel and Fox Kids Network.  He  worked in a  variety of advertising sales and research positions within Fox Family Worldwide (and under its previous operation as The Family Channel) since 1988.  His experience includes both  cable and broadcast television advertising sales, having represented Fox Family Channel, Fox Kids Network and The Family Channel.

    Abbott’s additional experience includes positions with CBS Radio Networks, Seltel, Inc. and Nadler & Larimer Advertising.  He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

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