A+E elevates Lori Hall to international programming VP

A+E Networks Global Content Sales is elevating Lori Hall to the position of VP of International Programming, which includes taking on the development of free ad-supported streaming TV channels.

Hall reports to Liz Soriano, SVP of International Programming.

In addition to FAST channels, Hall is heading up programming and scheduling, on top of lead product knowledge advisor to A+E’s international channels and global content sales team.

A+E Networks, a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst, has content that reaches more than 335 million households in over 200 territories in 41 languages.

Its portfolio includes Lifetime, the History Channel, LMN, FYI, Vice TV and others.

Hall has been with A+E Networks for eight years, initially focused domestically on the Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Networks brands before moving to A+E International in 2018 to advise global channel partners. Prior to that she was VP of Program Planning, Scheduling and Acquisitions at Ovation TV. According to A+E, Hall has been a key player for success of A+E’s international linear and U.S.-focused AVOD and FAST channels, as well as creation for program packaging models and management of the company’s movie pipeline.

“Lori has been a longtime rising star at A+E Networks. An innovative, multi-faceted programming strategist, Lori has made tremendous impacts on our international channels, O&O digital channel brands, and countless other global content products,” said Soriano in a statement. “I look forward to her ongoing success, growth, and influence as A+E continues to expand and evolve across many platforms all around the world.”

FAST channels are being spun up by entertainment companies, making money through advertising from their programming libraries and reaching audiences outside of traditional linear TV with the ad-supported streaming model.

AMC Networks earlier in April disclosed development of six new FAST channels expected to launch in the coming months, as part of its targeted streaming strategy to leverage content focused on individual interests.

In 2020 Wurl, a provider of streaming video distribution and advertising services for connected TVs, added A+E Networks. Wurl works with studios like A+E (as well as others like AMC Networks, Bloomberg, BBC Studios, and more) to deliver programming to over 1,200 streaming channels with platforms like Amazon IMDb TV (which just rebranded to Amazon Freevee), Roku, Samsung TV, and Vizio among others.

This past fall, Wurl aimed to make creating FAST channels easier worldwide with the launch of its Global FAST Pass. The all-in-one offering is supposed to help content companies launch FAST channels across the world’s top connected TV streamers spanning 50 counties. Companies create the content and negotiate distribution deals while Wurl takes care of technical challenges related to global distribution and channel management.