Anne Sweeney serves as co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, where she is responsible for The Walt Disney Company's entertainment and news television properties globally. She was promoted to this role in April 2004.
In her role, Ms. Sweeney manages the ABC Television Network, which provides entertainment, news and kids programming to viewers via more than 200 affiliated stations across the U.S. in addition to other technological platforms. Content produced by the ABC Entertainment Group is distributed to more than 230 territories across the globe. Her oversight also includes Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of 94 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and/or channel feeds available in more than 160 countries and 30 languages, spanning Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, GXT and Radio Disney brands. Ms. Sweeney is also responsible for the direction of cable networks ABC Family and SOAPnet, as well as Disney's publishing imprint, Hyperion, and the company's equity interest in A&E Television Networks.
During her tenure, Disney/ABC Television Group's properties have experienced tremendous growth. Hit series like "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "FlashForward" and "Modern Family" have made ABC the broadcast leader among advertiser-coveted upscale young adult entertainment audiences; and fan favorites like "Lost" have found new audiences across a variety of platforms, including VOD, broadband and mobile, in addition to the internet. ABC News' "World News with Charles Gibson" has forged into the 24-hour digital space, with content available throughout the day on ABCNews.com and an afternoon webcast that is downloaded by millions.
Consistently ranked as basic cable's No. 1 network in primetime among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, Disney Channel has continued to develop branded programming and franchises with worldwide appeal, utilizing popular series like "Hannah Montana," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and Disney Channel Original Movies like the smash hit "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie" to continue its ratings momentum and expand into additional markets around the world. ABC Family, available in more than 97 million U.S. homes, also continues to grow its core audience with exciting, hip programming like "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."
With more than 70 general-interest fiction and non-fiction titles introduced in 2009, Hyperion is home to numerous top New York Times bestsellers, including Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith, Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture and Cook Yourself Thin, by the staff of Lifetime Television.
From October 2000 to April 2004, Ms. Sweeney served as president of ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channels Worldwide. Under her leadership Disney Channel more than quintupled its subscriber base with its mix of original series and movies and acquired programming. It is now available on basic cable in more than 98 million homes in the United States.
In April 1998, Ms. Sweeney also oversaw the successful launch of the 24-hour channel Toon Disney, which is now known as Disney XD with a reach of more than 73 million homes in the United States. Less than two years later, in January 2000, she oversaw the launch of SOAPnet, the 24-hour soap opera network now available in more than 72 million U.S. homes.
Ms. Sweeney joined The Walt Disney Company in February 1996 as president of Disney Channel and executive vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Previously she was chairman and CEO of FX Networks, Inc., since 1993. During her tenure there, she presided over the launch of two basic cable networks, entertainment-focused FX and FXM: Movies from Fox, Hollywood's first studio-based movie network.
Before joining Fox, Ms. Sweeney spent 12 years at Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite in various executive positions, most recently as senior vice president of Program Enterprises. Among many accomplishments, she oversaw Nickelodeon's international expansion, including launching the channel in the United Kingdom, resulting in a joint venture with British Sky Broadcasting.
Active in organizations both within and outside the television industry, Ms. Sweeney is a board member of Lifetime Television, the Paley Center for Media, the American Film Institute, the Special Olympics and an honorary chair of Cable Positive.
Since assuming her current role as co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, Ms. Sweeney has repeatedly been named the "Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment" by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" by Fortune and one of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes. In 2008 she was honored with the Broadcasters Foundation of America's Golden Mike Award for Outstanding Contributions to Broadcasting, the Matrix Award for television from New York Women in Communications, Inc., as well as the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership. Ms. Sweeney was inducted into the Cable Center's Hall of Fame in October 2007 and recognized by the Producers Guild of America in 2006 with the President's Citation for her efforts on behalf of diversity across the Disney/ABC Television Group. In 2005 she was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable "Hall of Fame," and in 2004 received the Muse Award from New York Women in Film & Television. She has been honored repeatedly by Women in Cable & Telecommunications -- as Executive of the Year in 1994, Woman of the Year in 1997, and in 1998 as the recipient of the Advocate Leader Award from WICT's Southern California chapter. In 1995 she received the prestigious STAR Award from American Women in Radio and Television. She was inducted into the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement in 1996. In 2002 she received Women in Film's esteemed Lucy Award and has been awarded the Cable Television Public Affairs Association's President's Award.
Ms. Sweeney earned a BA degree from The College of New Rochelle and an Ed. M. degree from Harvard University.
Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks President, Disney/ABC Television Group