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Janice Marinelli serves as president of Buena Vista Television (BVT), the domestic television distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. Under Ms. Marinelli’s direction since 1999, BVT is a leader in the pay TV, video-on-demand and pay-per-view arenas; is a pioneer in new media, pursuing licensing opportunities within broadband, wireless and digital technologies; and boasts a powerful cache of off-network hits, first-run programming and top movie packages.
Buena Vista Pay Television licenses its vast library of movie titles and broadcasting assets from The Walt Disney Company to pay television, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and new media. Ms. Marinelli was part of the team that struck a groundbreaking pay TV deal with Starz, which was the biggest pay TV output deal in history. BVT dominates pay-per-view and video-on-demand, orchestrating key VOD movie output deals with several cable MSOs, as well as Verizon, Movielink, CinemaNow and Vongo. The division continues to capitalize on its properties by teaming up with new media outlets within the broadband and wireless industries. Most recently BVT was the first studio to partner with a cellular phone company on a VOD deal. With the launch of Sprint Movies (powered by mSpot) in September, mobile phone users are now able to stream full-length feature films from Buena Vista VOD.
Under Ms. Marinelli’s leadership, BVT boasts a remarkable off-net performance, bringing a host of break-out primetime favorites to broadcast syndication and basic cable. Among the recent high-profile sales are the top primetime performer Desperate Housewives and red-hot series Grey’s Anatomy. Buena Vista Television will also soon be bringing the mystery-adventure series Lost to the syndication marketplace. With more than 90 percent of the market sold, According to Jim and Scrubs launched in national syndication this fall. In addition, recent sales to basic cable include the popular primetime reality show Extreme Makeover and sitcom Hope & Faith. Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens made their mark in syndication this year as the first original programs from Disney Channel licensed to basic cable.
Celebrating 19 seasons in syndication, ratings powerhouse Live with Regis and Kelly continues to dominate daytime talk. Hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa wake up millions of Americans each morning with A-list celebrity interviews, musical performances and their famed host chat.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire boasts an impressive five seasons in national syndication this year, with 2005 Daytime Emmy award-winning host Meredith Vieira at the helm. The high-stakes quizzer has seen an extraordinary surge in viewers this year and is posting more year-to-year ratings growth than any other first-run syndicated strip.
BVT’s current first-run lineup also includes the highly respected paragon of movie review shows, Ebert & Roeper.Featuring Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, the long-running show offers lively, insightful discussion of the newest theatrical and DVD releases.
Ms. Marinelli also oversees BVT’s top-notch movie packages, which dominate the ranks of syndicated movie product. BVT’s current slate of packages includes Buena Vista 10 and Imagination 10, featuring the box-office blockbusters Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Ms. Marinelli joined BVT in 1985 as an account executive. She later served as director of Sales, Western Division, before assuming the role of senior vice president, Sales, BVT. She was named executive vice president in 1996 and president in 1999.
A native of New York, Ms. Marinelli is a graduate of St. John’s University. She is married to Tom Mazza and they have three children. | 