• by Wayne Friedman , May 12, 2009

 

Turner Broadcasting's senior executive David Levy has added new responsibilities to his existing oversight on advertising and sports -- distribution of all Turner networks.

In this new created position, Levy will be president of sales, distribution and sports for TBS, Inc., in charge of advertising sales strategy, marketing, affiliate marketing, interactive television and technology business development for Turner's domestic news, entertainment and animation and young adults networks and businesses.

He will continue to report to Phil Kent, CEO of TBS.

Levy had been president of Turner Broadcasting Sales, Inc. and president of Turner Sports. He will continue to oversee Turner Sports, the company's sports programming acquisitions, production, marketing, league relations and sports ad sales unit.

As part of this announcement, Coleman Breland, formerly executive vice president of sales and marketing for Turner's distribution sales unit, is being promoted to COO, assuming day-to-day leadership of Turner Network Sales. He reports to Levy.

Separately, Andrew Heller, formerly president of domestic distribution for TBS, Inc., was promoted to vice chairman of TBS Inc. He will work within Time Warner for its "TV Everywhere" initiative, in which the company looks to authenticate its cable subscribers who want to view its programming online. Heller will also be a senior adviser to Kent on business and corporate strategy-setting issues.