Abernethy named SVP Content Distribution at Univision

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced the appointment of Friday Abernethy to senior vice president, Content Distribution. She will be based in New York and report to Sarah Madigan, executive vice president, Content Distribution.
 
“We are pleased to welcome Friday to UCI,” said Madigan. “This appointment to our senior leadership team marks another important step in our mission to become the leading distribution sales and marketing team in the industry, enabling our partners to offer the very best content for Hispanic America.”
 
In her newly-created role, Abernethy will oversee UCI’s Content Distribution efforts with cable, satellite and telecommunications distributors.  Her responsibilities include distribution of the Company’s linear networks, including Univision and UniMás, and its diverse cable portfolio including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, El Rey, a new 24-hour English-language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez as well as a suite of targeted Spanish-language cable networks.  She will also manage UCI’s digital offerings for the industry, including Univision’s TV everywhere products, UVideos and Univision Deportes.
 
Prior to joining UCI, Abernethy served as executive vice president of Distribution Sales and Marketing for TV Guide Network, where she was responsible for setting the Network’s long-term distribution strategy and was instrumental in a major repositioning of the company. Prior to joining TV Guide Network, Abernethy was vice president of National Accounts/Field Operations for Content Distribution at MTV Networks, where she and her team secured distribution for all of MTV Networks and BET Networks’ cable channels across linear television, online content, video on-demand, HD and other new and emerging platforms. Before that, Abernethy held posts at GE Capital, a division of General Electric, and JP Morgan Chase.