Peter Olsen: Last News

Peter Olsen, president of ad sales, sees a blended future for the ad-supported TV business, but one in which Nielsen will continue to play a central role.

Toby Byrne, who spent 20 years at Fox, has joined A+E Networks as EVP, National Ad Sales as part of a broader revamp of the cable programmer’s sales team.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Toby Byrne, who rose over two-decades to run advertising sales for Fox Broadcasting and Fox Sports, is getting back into the TV-ad game. Byrne has been named executive vice president of national ad sales at A+E Networks, reporting to Peter Olsen, president of ad sales at the company, which is a joint venture of Hearst and Walt Disney Co.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorA+E Networks has long been in the business of selling advertising time for its linear cable networks. But as it moves into a new era of haggling over audiences who watch TV in decidedly non-traditional fashion, it has started to push advertisers to find new ways to spend their money.“As our industry continues to evolve, we remain focused on premium, popular and relevant stories and storytellers and are expanding the ways our viewers can find our content,’ says Paul Buccieri,” president and chairman of A+E Networks Group, in a prepared statement, adding: “In an ever-changing landscape, we are providing our advertisers more —  more programming featuring the world’s most beloved talent, more best-in-class opportunities to reach their targets, and more custom solutions to exceed their goals and deeply engage their audiences.” A+E Networks is holding a virtual upfront presentation Wednesday for advertisers.

A+E Networks is sending a message to ad buyers during its upfront Wednesday: It still believes in TV.And it still thinks linear television is a wise investment for marketers and brands. “We believe in original content, we believe in our brands, we believe in TV,” A+E Networks president of ad sales Peter Olsen tells The Hollywood Reporter in an interview.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorIn a world focused on streaming, A+E Networks isn’t turning off the traditional TV.The company, jointly owned by Walt Disney Co. and Hearst, is placing emphasis on original TV series aimed first at linear TV, with a vow to increase original hour of programming by 50%.

In a move its head of sales calls a “radical” departure from the long-held orthodoxy of catering to youth, A+E Networks has decided to embrace TV viewers 55 and older.

By Dade Hayes

By Jill Goldsmith

By Jill Goldsmith