Bright House Newsroom

9/29/2009

Syracuse, NY

Tony Smythe has been named Corporate Director of Sales and Development for Bright House Networks Media Sales Division. 

Smythe will be responsible for developing and executing all enterprise-wide advertising initiatives related to Bright House Networks’ media inventory including their overall sports sales strategies along with Bright House Sports Network.  He will develop and execute all sales strategies related to network promotional opportunities and revenue-driving programs.  Smythe will oversee and manage all sales training and development programs for the Advertising Sales Division.  Smythe will report to Todd A. Stewart, Corporate Vice President of Advertising Sales for Bright House Networks.

“Tony brings many years of successful selling experience and sports sales marketing while at ESPN / Disney,” said Stewart.  “We are glad to have him as part of the Bright House Networks team as he will create revenue opportunities, unique partnerships with our clients and programming networks, and sales development throughout all of our markets.  His background and energy are perfect to work with Bright House Sports Network across our Florida markets.”

Smythe joins Bright House Networks as an accomplished and seasoned sales executive who has been in the cable industry for over thirteen years.  For nearly ten years at ESPN, Smythe served as Senior Director of Affiliate Advertising Sales for Disney and ESPN Media Networks (DEMN) in Bristol, CT where he managed the corporate ad sales relationships with a diverse group of MSOs, including Comcast Spotlight, Charter Media, and DirecTV.  He also worked on promotion development and conducted trainings on ESPN’s portfolio of networks.  During Smythe’s tenure, the DEMN group won the Cable Advertising Bureau’s Programmer of the year award three years in a row.

Prior to joining DEMN, Smythe was both an account executive and a local sales manager for AT&T Media Services (now Comcast Spotlight) in Chicago where he constantly exceeded advertising sales goals and played a key role in consolidating multiple MSOs into one operating unit.

Smythe is a graduate of Illinois State University with a BA in Economics and a minor in Broadcast Journalism.  Smythe, his wife and their four children will relocate from Avon, CT to Florida.

About Bright House Networks

Bright House Networks is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida with technologically advanced systems located in five states including Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and California.

Bright House Networks serves approximately 2.5 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services. The company also offers a full suite of phone, Internet, Ethernet and cable television services to businesses of all sizes. Bright House Media Strategies, the advertising arm of Bright House Networks, offers businesses advanced targeted advertising solutions. Bright House Networks also owns and operates exclusive local news and sports channels in its Florida markets.

For more information about Bright House Networks or our products and services, please visit (www.brighthouse.com).