Didi Montiel – Broadcasting & Cable Magazine’s Women in the Game

At GolTV, Vice President of Marketing Deborah Montiel, known as Didi to her beloved colleagues, is the only woman executive in an all-male locker room. Founded by soccer legend Enzo Francescoli in 2003, GolTV is the nation’s only independent soccer network, distributed in HD and SD, English and Spanish, offering fans news, scores, clips and stats through its online portal at GolTV.tv and via cell phones with GolTV Móvil. Managing all of GolTV’s properties, from the linear network to its mobile platform, Didi has built up the GolTV brand to become a household name among U.S. Hispanics and feverish futbol fans.

A professional juggler, Didi supports all network initiatives, from ad sales to distribution. She is the creative force behind GolTV’s advertising in affiliate and consumer publications, cross-channel spots and branding campaigns. Didi also serves as the marketing liaison with top international leagues such as La Liga and Bundesliga, among others, and leads the network to score goals versus cable giants ESPN Deportes and Fox Soccer Channel.

For Didi, GolTV is a passion only bested by her commitment to give back to the community. She has organized GolTV’s support of operator initiatives through donations and call center promotions, and is always looking for ways to support young soccer stars.

Though Didi is thrilled to have viewers on their couches with GolTV and GolTV HD on their LCDs and plasmas, she has shown a true dedication to fostering a new generation of athletes. Under Didi’s direction, GolTV has sponsored young futbolistas in both its local Miami area and around the world, partnering with the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Passback Program to provide needy children abroad with soccer equipment. Not partial to just soccer, Didi also led GolTV to team up with Row New York, helping young female athletes stay active and achieve their goals through academic support and scholarships.

Having just launched the network’s first telecast of women’s soccer, what’s next on Didi’s to-do list? None other than a arranging a retail partnership aimed at keeping our nation’s kids moving with a GolTV branded, child-friendly soccer ball.

With all of her accomplishments over the years at GolTV as the only girl in the boys’ club, Didi will still say her most exciting moment was meeting David Beckham… after hanging out with Pele. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and Didi is wearing her joy on her face. (See attached photo, Didi pictured LEFT.)