Years in Cable: 25
Education: BA, Communications & Psychology, Vanderbilt University
One Word that Best Describes Me: Neat freak
Abbott, McAvoy, Roberts and Vicary may have slightly different approaches to their jobs at Crown Media, but they share several important qualities that keep the crown shining bright: kindness, commitment, and a penchant for creative excellence. Abbott’s vast knowledge of the cable industry and keen instincts help him accurately forecast industry trends. Vicary’s innate ability to identify and tailor content for the Hallmark brand has fueled the growth of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. McAvoy’s creative and on-point ideas—spanning consumer, ad sales, and affiliate marketing—continually hit the sweet spot, helping generate viewership and revenue. And Roberts deftly manages to keep the organizational side of the operation afloat. Even without the networks’ successful Christmas programming events, they both grew in key demos in 2016; among total viewers, Hallmark Channel was up 14 percent and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries was up 25 percent.
Q&A
What inspires you most about this industry? The constant change.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year? The continuing proliferation of over-the-top platforms and services.
The best thing about fast broadband is… faster everything.
What are the top three qualities you look for in a hire? A willingness to take risks, loyalty, team player.
Last show I watched not on my networks: “The Americans”
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Playing games as a family.
