President, Disney-ABC Television Group, 2007 Cable Hall of Fame
A pioneer of cable television and leader among TV executives worldwide, Anne Sweeney is co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, where she is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment and news television properties globally. The group includes the ABC Television Network, which provides entertainment, news and kids programming to viewers via 228 affiliated stations across the U.S. in addition to other technological platforms. ABC series, many of which are produced by ABC Studios, are distributed to more than 200 territories across the globe by Disney-ABC Worldwide Television.
Ms. Sweeney also oversees Disney Channel Worldwide, which includes Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney and Jetix, as well as Radio Disney and Walt Disney Television Animation, a TV animation studio. Today Disney Channel reaches more than 90 million U.S. homes and 500 million homes in 127 countries worldwide. Ms. Sweeney also manages cable networks ABC Family and SOAPnet, which reach more than 90 and 60 million U.S. homes, respectively, as well as Disney’s equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Network.
Ms. Sweeney joined the company in 1996 as president of Disney Channel and executive vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks. She was promoted to president of the division and Disney Channel Worldwide in 2000, and to her current position in 2004.
Previously Ms. Sweeney was chairman and CEO of FX Networks, Inc. She spent 12 years before that at Nickelodeon in various executive positions.
An inductee of Broadcasting & Cable’s Hall of Fame, Ms. Sweeney was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in October 2006. She is a board member of Lifetime Television, the Museum of Television & Radio, the Special Olympics, and is an honorary chair of Cable Positive.
Ms. Sweeney, who holds degrees from The College of New Rochelle and Harvard University, resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
