Jimmy Blackburn named VP Programming Research for DC

I’ve wanted to post this for a while, but I kept forgetting. If anyone has any issues with DC’s Programming department, Jimmy Blackburn is the guy to complain to. 🙂

JIMMY BLACKBURN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT,
PROGRAMMING RESEARCH, DISNEY CHANNELS WORLDWIDE

Jimmy Blackburn has joined Disney as Vice President, Programming Research, Disney Channels Worldwide, it was announced today by Kelly Pena, Senior Vice President, Research, Disney Channels Worldwide, to whom he will report. Blackburn spent the past 10 years at Nickelodeon where he was most recently Senior Director, Kids & Family Audience Research.

Ms. Pena said, “Jimmy brings a wealth of knowledge and credibility in the kids TV and digital media research arena, and adds a competitive dimension to our team as we continue to grow our business and build on the deep connection kids have with our content and the trust parents have in our brand.”

In his new role, Blackburn is responsible for directing a team of TV and digital media researchers for the Disney Channels Worldwide portfolio — Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney (soon to be rebranded Disney Junior), ABC Kids, Radio Disney and their related digital platforms — including the planning, development and analysis of audience data. He will also serve as a key advisor to executive management, working closely with programming, scheduling, acquisitions, marketing, media relations, ad sales and finance teams.

Blackburn began his career in 1997 as an accountant for Turner Network Television and Turner Classic Movies in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1998, he made the transition to Senior Analyst, Cartoon Network Ratings & Online Research. He moved to New York in 2000 to work at MTV Networks as Manager, Nickelodeon Online Research, where he was in charge of all reporting for internal, Nielsen and Comscore data. He also led the development of online surveys used to gauge ad recall for Ad Sales’ clients. In 2004, he moved over to the TV group to head up Nick’s Audience Research, eventually leading audience research for all brands under the Nick Kids and Family Portfolio: Nick, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and TeenNick.

Blackburn was born and raised in Brunswick, Georgia and graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He has relocated to Los Angeles.

Disney Channels Worldwide is a portfolio of 94 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and/or channel feeds available in 169 countries in 33 languages, spanning Disney Channel, Disney XD, Playhouse Disney (soon to be re-branded Disney Junior), Disney Cinemagic, Hungama and Radio Disney brands. Through cable, satellite and digital terrestrial television channels and a strategic partnership with Disney-ABC-ESPN Television for the third-party distribution of Disney-branded kids’ programming across the globe, Disney Channels Worldwide reaches hundreds of millions of viewers. Disney Channel properties continue to rapidly expand into new markets across the world, playing a key role in introducing the Disney brand to new consumers.