Oxygen Media Promotes Jason Klarman To President

Responsible for the unprecedented growth and rebrand success of the fastest growing women's network on the dial, Jason Klarman has been promoted to President, Oxygen Media, effective immediately. The announcement was made today by Lauren Zalaznick, President, NBC Universal Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks to whom Klarman will continue to report. With this promotion, Klarman will add oversight of Oxygen's original programming and development teams to his responsibilities. Since January 2008, Klarman had been General Manager of Oxygen Media, its first since NBC Universal's acquisition in November of 2007.

"Jason has an unparalleled gift for identifying a brand's essence and driving a business from that vantage point," said Zalaznick. "His ability to deliver a message that cuts through the clutter along with keen business acumen has driven the incredible double digit growth at Oxygen these past two and a half years. His unlimited creativity will continue to drive the outsized success that Oxygen has enjoyed under his command."

In year one, Klarman completed a total network rebrand, changing the entire look, feel and attitude of Oxygen by introducing the "Live Out Loud" tagline. Subsequently, under Klarman's watch, Oxygen Media has experienced double and triple digit growth across every platform, with the cable network growing 119% among women 18-34 and 85% among women 18-49.* And since 2008, one hundred new advertisers have partnered with Oxygen Media, with the network's total revenue increasing by more than 30 percent.

With a track record for digital innovation and growth, in December 2009 Klarman oversaw the launch of OxygenLive, a first-ever groundbreaking live two-screen viewer social media experience in which fans discuss, interact and react to a show while it airs -- delivering double-digit ratings increases for the "Bad Girls Club" season four. Since his appointment, Oxygen is now available on-air, online, on mobile devices, on dvd and on tour, allowing Oxygen fans a connection to the network wherever she may be.

Responsible for the strategic scheduling and launch strategies for all key programming franchises, the network's debut of "Dance Your Ass Off" in 2009 became Oxygen's highest rated freshman series in network history; "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood" attracted more than one million adults 18-49 for the first time, and the "Bad Girls Club" became its most watched series ever, surpassing the three million viewer mark just this past season, besting the broadcast networks in its last two episodes in the coveted women 18-34 demographic.

Prior to his move to Oxygen, Klarman served as Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital at Bravo, where he managed the strategy, content and operations for the channel's brand growth and digital portfolio, directing the development of all brand strategy and consumer marketing for Bravo and overseeing Bravo's consumer advertising and on-air promotion. During his tenure he was instrumental in the creation of Bravo Media, an effort to extend the Bravo brand into new commercial ventures including digital, e-commerce, publishing and licensing as well as spearheading Bravo's acquisition of Television Without Pity. In 2005, he led the rebrand of Bravo, transforming the network's on-air and online look with the signature talk bubble logo and "Watch What Happens" tagline, launching campaigns for such hit series as "Project Runway," "Top Chef," "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List." He also re-launched the network's website, transforming the promotional site to a vibrant stand-alone business focused on everything Bravo and everything pop culture.

In 2007, Klarman was named a ProMax Brand Builder and was an EMMY finalist for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television. In 2006, he was named an Entertainment Marketer of the Year by Ad Age magazine and a Digital Innovator by TV Week.

Klarman joined Bravo in 2004 from TRIO, the much buzzed about pop culture network where he led the branding efforts from May 2001 as the Senior Vice President of Marketing. Prior to TRIO, Klarman held the position of Vice President of Marketing at FOX News, where he worked on the launch of the FOX News Channel and oversaw consumer and trade marketing. Earlier, he held the position of Director of Media Relations at CNBC where he handled media relations for "America's Talking" and oversaw the network's public relations department. Klarman holds BA's in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business.

* Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer, 12/28/09-3/28/10 vs. 10/1/07-12/30/07, Prime (M-Su 8p-11p), Live+7

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