Jennifer Caserta Exits AMC Networks as Aisha Thomas-Petit Is Upped to Chief People and Diversity Officer

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAMC Networks will unveil a new ad-sales initiative called “Avenue” aimed at helping advertisers reach diverse audiences more effectively and more frequently.Slated to be unveiled at a virtual “upfront” event on Thursday, “Avenue” aims to give advertisers more resources to reach different audiences and new events that will make that outreach possible throughout the calendar year, says Kim Kelleher, , president of commercial revenue and partnerships for AMC Networks, in a recent interview.“We are part of this greater industry that’s really striving to be more representative, and more authentic in that representation,” says Kelleher. “What we have done is organized our audiences, our data tools, and our creators in a way that can more easily be tapped by our advertising and marketing partners.” “Avenue” will initially focus on five key groups: women, Black audiences, LBGTQ+, Asian-American Pacific Islanders) and Hispanic/Latinx.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSandra Oh’s Netflix comedy “The Chair” touches on the sticky nature of how actions are perceived and the consequences that should or shouldn’t come with it in an age of social media, where nuance often gets lost in the debate.“It’s really tricky to talk about,” Oh tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “It’s hard to gague when it’s going to bite you.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAMC Networks says it plans to sell three addressable ad slots in each linear hour of original programs on its flagship cable network as well as WeTV, the latest expansion of technology that allows advertisers to hone their pitches to radiational mass TV audiences.The spots are slated to run on Comcast, Charter and Cox cable systems and have the potential to reach 35 million U.S. homes.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“In Treatment” is once again ending its session. The HBO drama, which returned for a fourth season in 2021 after a decade-long break, won’t be returning for more episodes, HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys confirmed to Variety.The reimagined new season earned star Uzo Aduba an Emmy nomination in the lead drama actress category for her role as therapist Dr. Brooke Taylor; Anthony Ramos, Liza Colón-Zayas, John Benjamin Hickey, Quintessa Swindell and Joel Kinnaman also starred in the revival.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAt around $7 million per 30-second spot, an ad for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI did not come cheap. But with more than 112 million viewers having tuned in for the Los Angeles Rams victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the companies who shelled out that cash would likely think it was worth it to have their spot viewed by that many eyeballs.

AMC Networks beat Wall Street estimates for the fourth quarter and reported 9 million streaming subscribers as of the end of 2021, in line with company projections.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAMC Networks reported its fourth-quarter 2021 earnings Wednesday, revealing it had reached more than 9 million paid streaming subscribers by the end of 2021. The company also beat Wall Street’s expectations for both its Q4 revenue and profit.AMC Networks previously said it expected to have 9 million streaming subscribers by the end of 2021, and forecast between 20 million to 25 million paid subscribers across its streaming services by 2025.

Universal’s Jennifer Lopez-Owen Wilson romantic comedy Marry Me led the Valentine’s Day Monday box office with $3M, raising its four-day total to $10.99M.

Bob Saget was simply known as the silly but lovable father on. And that's exactly what the predominantly Black audience at the Comedy Store's Phat Tuesdays showcase expected when he was introduced.

Jennifer Aniston is hard at work shooting a new movie in a sun-soaked destination and her latest photo sparked a huge reaction.   The Morning Show actress looked right at home with the waves crashing behind her in an image she shared on Instagram. MORE: Jennifer Aniston rocks natural curls in bare-faced selfie Jennifer wasn't alone in the shot as she had arms around her good friend, Adam Sandler. WATCH: Jennifer Aniston films her health hack The star wore a cute, flowery kimono and white shorts. Her hair was loose and she sported a pair of sunglasses and some new bangs too. She also posted a video from the set in Hawaii and all of her fans agreed the location was stunning.

AMC Networks has elevated its first head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Aisha Thomas-Petit, to the role of Chief People and Diversity Officer. She succeeds Jennifer Caserta, the longtime IFC executive who segued to AMC’s HR chief in 2018 and is departing after 20 years at the company.

In the latest in a string of distribution deals, Comcast Cable has reached a comprehensive, multi-year agreement with AMC Networks.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAMC Networks has renewed its multiyear distribution deal with Comcast.Under the continued agreement, AMC Networks’ linear channels — AMC, We TV, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV — and streaming service AMC Plus will remain available to Comcast Cable’s Xfinity TV, broadband and XClass customers. Additionally, the pact covers expanded availability of AMC Networks’ other targeted streaming services — Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, Allblk and the recently acquired Hidive — to Comcast users.Among this year’s upcoming content offerings from AMC Networks are the final seasons of “The Walking Dead,” “Killing Eve” and “Better Call Saul,” as well as the launch of new shows “61st Street,” “Dark Winds,” “Tales of the Walking Dead,” “Moonhaven” and the first two series in its Anne Rice TV universe, “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” and “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches.” “We are excited to continue and also expand our longstanding partnership with Comcast through a new agreement that includes not only continued carriage of our cable networks, but also our fast-growing targeted streaming services including AMC+, which was made available first to Xfinity customers,” Josh Reader, president of distribution and development for AMC Networks, said.

cancer. Tributes have come in for the late entrepreneur, with investor Lori Greiner sharing a poignant message. On the show, Thomas, who was also a former Marine, won her over with his pitch for his company, Kettle Gryp.

It seems that rumors of a romance between Brad Pitt and Lykke Li are just that — rumors. In recent days, speculation had surfaced that the 58-year-old actor and 35-year-old singer had begun a relationship, but a source recently cleared the air, disclosing that the relationship between the two is purely platonic. An insider told People magazine that the "Little Bit" singer is a member of "a large group of artsy friends that [Pitt] enjoys hanging out with." Actress Alia Shawkat is another member of this group, said the source.

Brad Pitt and Lykke Li are just friends.

Emmerdale star Rosie Bentham looked dramatically different to her character Gabby Thomas as she shared glamorous snaps on Sunday.The 20 year old actress took to Instagram to post several pictures of herself on a night out where she wore a black long-sleeved mini dress. Rosie teamed her outfit with a matching coloured clutch bag with a silver chain and hooped earrings.The soap star styled her brunette locks into a blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up as she posed up a storm.

Martin Dale ContributorBrad Pitt has teamed up with Emmy-award winning music producer Damien Quintard to relaunch the historic Miraval Studios, where Pink Floyd, Sting, The Cure and AC/DC recorded their albums. It is being redesigned as an exclusive film and music production and post-production facility in a beautiful setting.The studio is located in a majestic vineyard estate, Château Miraval, that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie leased in 2008, purchased in 2011 and held their wedding there in 2014.