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George Bodenheimer
President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports
Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks |
An ESPN and cable industry pioneer, George Bodenheimer, 48, was named
ESPN’s fifth President in 1998, and since then he has led an
unprecedented period of growth for ESPN. Bodenheimer’s path
to leadership mirrors that of ESPN itself - with his sharp focus on
creativity and cutting-edge innovation, his emphasis on always enhancing
value for ESPN’s fans and business partners, and his conviction
for teamwork. In 2003, he was also appointed President of ABC Sports,
overseeing all the multimedia sports assets of The Walt Disney Company,
and in 2004 he assumed the role of co-chairman, Disney Media Networks,
encompassing strategic planning for Disney’s media assets.
As President of ESPN, Inc., Bodenheimer leads one of the world’s
premier brands with over 50 business entities and counting - including
seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS,
ESPN Deportes, ESPNU and ESPN Today), 30 international television
networks, ESPN and ESPN2 HD, simulcast services in high-definition,
ESPN Regional Television, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN
The Magazine and books, the ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants),
and other growing new businesses including ESPN360 (broadband), Mobile
ESPN (wireless including the ESPN-branded phone), ESPN on Demand,
ESPN Interactive and ESPN Pay-Per-View.
As President of ABC Sports, he oversees one of the broadcast industry’s
most comprehensive sports programming schedules. ABC Sports is broadcast
home for the NBA Finals, college football including the Rose Bowl
and college basketball, World Cup Soccer, the British Open, the Belmont
Stakes, Little League World Series, the IndyCar Series featuring the
Indy 500, NASCAR starting in 2007 and more.
Bodenheimer’s vision has led to numerous company and industry-leading
innovations in integrated sales and marketing, original programming,
rights and business acquisitions, and new technologies, highlighted
by ESPN’s state-of-the-art Digital Center. He established an
organizational structure with leaders focusing on six areas: content
across all media, technology, international, sales and marketing,
finance and administration.
Bodenheimer joined the company after college in January 1981 as a
driver in the mailroom. He rose through the ranks becoming Executive
Vice President, Sales and Marketing in 1996. He was graduated from
Denison University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics,
and he is married with three children. |
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