Kaplan Exits GSN To Head Marketing For NFL Net

The executive who oversaw the new "Get in the Game" tagline for GSN is joining another channel, where the catch phrase might apply. Dena Kaplan, the marketing veteran at the formerly dubbed Game Show Network, has joined the NFL Network as senior vice president of marketing.

Her duties will extend from consumer outreach to research to affiliate targeting--perhaps the most critical and challenging aspect of the post. She will report to COO Kim Williams at the network owned by the NFL.

The NFL Network--which began carrying live league games last fall--has built distribution to the 45 million range, but has failed in its negotiations with leading cable operators Time Warner Cable and Cablevision to reach deals that could boost its reach to some 70 million homes.

The NFL Network said Kaplan's role will include "growing subscriber distribution by developing cross-platform marketing strategies." NFLN said during her 10-year tenure, GSN distribution jumped from under 1 million to 65 million.

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Kaplan headed marketing at GSN as the network became profitable under now-departed CEO Rich Cronin. During that span, the channel changed its ID from the Game Show Network to GSN, and undertook an evolution from an outlet known more for reruns of older series, such as "Let's Make a Deal," to one that offers original fare with an emphasis on interactive opportunities.

Kaplan led the introduction of the "Get in the Game" tag this year. Before GSN, Kaplan worked in sales at Cablevision's Rainbow networks unit.

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