Salon.com (Nasdaq: SALN), one of the Internet's leading media companies, announced today that media and entertainment veteran Don Ohlmeyer has joined its Board of Advisors. Ohlmeyer, currently the executive producer for ABC's "Monday Night Football," brings over 30 years of experience in developing popular media brands.
"We're thrilled to have Don join our Board of Advisors and provide insights and recommendations to Salon as we grow this powerful brand," said Michael O'Donnell, Salon.com's CEO and president. "His successful track record in television, combined with his unique programming ideas for building audiences and revenues on the Internet, should be invaluable to us in the coming years."
Prior to working with "Monday Night Football," Ohlmeyer served as president of NBC West Coast, where he helped the network achieve many critical milestones. Under his entertainment leadership, NBC went from third to first place in all key ratings categories, and stayed there for four straight years. NBC became the first network to attract $2 billion in primetime upfront ad sales, and gained the coveted distinction of America's most watched "Must See TV" network with such series as "Frasier," "ER" and "Friends."
Ohlmeyer began his career at ABC Sports in 1967 where he served in various capacities on programs like "Wide World of Sports," "Monday Night Football" and "Monday Night Baseball," as well as producing and directing four Olympic Games. In 1977, Ohlmeyer became executive producer of NBC Sports.
"There are very few brands online that have the chance to become 'power brands,' attracting large audiences and significant revenues," said Ohlmeyer. "Salon has established itself in the last five years with its unique and award-winning content and distinctive brand personality. I look forward to helping the company maximize its opportunity to become a valuable media franchise."
Ohlmeyer joins fellow Salon board members and investors from the media business including Norman Lear, chairman of Act III Communications; Jim Rosenfield, ex-president of CBS Television; Leonardo Mondadori, chairman of Mondadori, Italy's largest publishing company; Rainbow Media Holdings (division of Cablevision Systems); East/West Capital; Constellation Ventures; and Wasserstein Perella.
About Salon.com: Salon.com (AOL Keyword: Salon) is an Internet media company that produces a network of 11 award-winning, original content sites and two communities -- Table Talk and The WELL. In May 2000, Salon acquired MP3Lit.com, the pioneering Web site offering quality spoken word and audio literature in MP3 and Real Audio formats. Salon.com currently has relationships with more than 450 advertisers including industry leaders such as IBM, Lexus, Microsoft, EDS, Ask Jeeves and Kimberly-Clark. In December 1999, Salon.com announced a content and equity agreement with Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation and NBC. Strategic distribution partners include America Online (AOL), Lycos, Netscape, Reuters, CNN.com and CNet as well as wireless innovators AvantGo and Rocket eBooks. Salon.com content is also syndicated to print publications through United Features Syndicate. The site had 2.5 million unique visitors in June 2000.
SOURCE Salon.com
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