• by David Goetzl , October 10, 2008

Rainbow Media has promoted two executives to help drive revenues from branded entertainment and sponsorship sales at its two ad-free networks: IFC and Sundance. Each executive comes from one side of the recent pairing of the two networks' operations--after Rainbow parent Cablevision acquired Sundance.

Alan Klein, from IFC, is now executive vice president of the newly formed IFCtv/Sundance Channel partnerships, operations and business development unit. Kim Gabelmann, from Sundance--now senior vice president, branded entertainment and partnerships for the two networks--will report to Klein.

Gabelmann will oversee the day-to-day sponsorship sales for the networks. Sundance only began accepting them in early 2007.

The new Klein-led division's West Coast operation will be headed by Lee Sparer, vice president, branded entertainment and partnerships. Rainbow said Sundance has never had a full-time sales executive on the West Coast.

Looking to facilitate sponsorship growth on multiple platforms, Rainbow said Dan Shulman joins as vice president, digital sales, licensing & business development, which covers the respective Web sites for the networks.

Finally, Kevin Cirrito, vice president, sales, planning, will head up pricing and planning management for the sales operations.

"We have put together a tremendous team to get the IFCtv and Sundance Channel joint sales efforts off to a running start," said Evan Shapiro, president of the two networks.