6:46 AM PST 1/15/2021
by
Etan Vlessing
Spade as CFO will oversee financial affairs for AMC Networks’ assets like AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV.
AMC Networks has landed former ViacomCBS CFO Christina Spade as its new finance chief.
Spade becomes executive vp and CFO for AMC’s portolio of channels, including AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv; streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK; and AMC Networks International. In her new role, Spade will oversee financial operations, including treasury, tax, accounting and financial planning.
Spade most recently served as executive vp and CFO for the newly-combined ViacomCBS. That followed CFO roles at CBS Corporation and Showtime Networks, where she spent more than two decades.
While ViacomCBS has talked about shuttering some niche streaming services to focus on Paramount+, Sapan continues to talk up AMC Networks’ niche streaming services like Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and UMC (recently rebranded as ALLBLK) as profitable and having potential for international rollouts. At the same time, AMC Networks is part of an industry-wide shift to the streaming space, even as it continues to drive revenues from its traditional linear TV networks.
Spade succeeds former AMC Networks CFO Sean Sullivan, who stepped down in October 2020.
“Chris is an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of the media business and an impeccable track record driving strong financial and operational results,” said Josh Sapan, AMC Networks President and CEO, to whom Spade will report.
Sapan recently signed a contract extension with the company, keeping him at the helm of the owner of AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and BBC America through the end of 2022.
“With her significant business transformation experience, Chris will be a strong addition to AMC Networks’ management team as we continue to reshape our company, accelerating our efforts to advance our streaming business while continuing to create the world-class content for which we are known,” he added.
AMC Networks is also continuing to exploit The Walking Dead franchise, even as the previously announced 11th season of the zombie drama will be its last, with 24 episodes to be stretched over two years. The company will enlarge The Walking Dead world with straight-to-series order for a third spin-off drama that follows Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Melissa McBride (Carol) and to launch in 2023 as the flagship drama ends its run.
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