• by Wayne Friedman , February 6, 2008

NBC Universal's Bravo Media and Oxygen Media are consolidating their TV research groups under one roof.

Leading that new group will be Bravo research veteran Tony Cardinale, who has been promoted to a new position, senior vice president of research and strategic insights for Bravo Media and Oxygen Media. Cardinale will report to Lauren Zalaznick, president of Bravo Media and Oxygen Media and Sari DeCesare, senior vice president of TV network and cable audience research at NBC Universal.

Three years ago, Cardinale had joined Bravo as vice president of research. Before Bravo, Cardinale had been at ZenithOptimedia U.S., as senior vice president and head of strategic insights for Saatchi & Saatchi Media, Zenith Media and Optimedia.

Cardinale played a key role in promoting Bravo as an upscale brand in recent years, targeting the "affluencer" consumer. He had a big hand in launching several Bravo shows, including "Top Chef," "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Shear Genius," "Flipping Out" and "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style."

Two Oxygen research executives, Christina Pisano and Sarah Barasch, will expand their responsibilities into Bravo.

Pisano will be vice president of Bravo/Oxygen Research, working on ratings research efforts for both networks. She had been vice president of research for Oxygen. Barasch will focus her research efforts on advertising sales as vice president of ad sales research for Bravo/Oxygen. She had been vice president of sales research for Oxygen. Both will report to Cardinale.