Hallmark Channel: Georger Heads New Ad Sales Lineup

Ed Georger

Hallmark Channel has realigned its advertising sales staff.

Longtime Hallmark executive Edward Georger is now the network's executive vice president of advertising sales. He will be responsible for the national ad sales of both networks, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, including packaging, pricing and planning, their Internet services and developing digital networks.

Georger had been senior vice president of advertising. He will report to Bill Abbott, president/CEO of Crown Media Holdings, which owns both channels. Abbott previously held the post of executive vice president of advertising sales.

Previously, Georger oversaw sales teams in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, including direct-response and paid programming sales. Georger helped form the network's Sponsorship Solutions Unit, which creates customized and multiplatform opportunities for advertisers.

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In addition, Cindy Kelly is now senior vice president of national advertising sales, after a stint as Hallmark's senior vice president of New York sales and new media. She was responsible for creating unique customized sponsorship packages for the networks' advertising partners while maximizing inventory and growing revenue.

Also, Stephanie Versichelli has joined Hallmark as senior vice president of Eastern sales. She had been vice president of advertising sales for MTV Networks, handling advertising sales teams for TV Land, CMT, Comedy Central and Spike.

In the third quarter, Hallmark Channel was down 24% to 984,000 average viewers in prime time. It dropped 14% in one key demo -- women 25-54 -- to 165,000 average viewers. Among 18-49 viewers, the group was off 16% in prime time to 173,000 average viewers.

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