Press Releases

CULVER CITY, CA (June 1, 2011) - Lucia Cottone has been named senior vice president, development and current programming, networks, Sony Pictures Television (SPT). It was announced today by Marie Jacobson, executive vice president, programming and production, networks, SPT.

In this newly created role, Cottone is charged with global television development for SPT's growing channel portfolio worldwide. She will also oversee current programming, managing a slate of hundreds of original hours for the company's channels: AXN, SET, SPIN, Animax and related sub-brands around the world.

“Developing quality, cut-through franchises to further strengthen our worldwide brands is top priority and Lucia's distinctive expertise both in cable programming and versatile storytelling will allow us to compete aggressively on a global stage,” said Jacobson.

Cottone joins SPT most recently from Lifetime where she spent five years developing drama and comedy series, most notably Army Wives, the network's highest-rated scripted series of all time. Prior to Lifetime, Cottone honed her story skills at NBC Universal, Telemundo, UPN and Rysher Entertainment. Her experience spans scripted drama, comedy, reality, game show and telenovela genres, the ideal background for a role charged with global TV development.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 120 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.