Ray Hopkins Named CBS’s President of TV Networks Distribution

Veteran of YES Network

Ray Hopkins has been named president of television networks distribution for CBS Corporation.

The former YES Network chief operating officer will report to Joseph Ianniello, who was named Wednesday as CBS's COO. Hopkins will work with Ianniello to secure new retransmission and affiliation agreements for CBS’s broadcast and cable networks, including the CBS Television Network, Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian Networks and TVGN.

“We are very pleased to add an executive of Ray’s caliber – particularly one with his wealth of relevant experience – to bring this initiative to another level," said Ianniello.

Hopkins spent nine years as YES' COO, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company’s affiliate sales, legal, finance, business development, new media, marketing, human resources and communications departments. YES was the country's first regional sports network to be distributed by cable operators outside its home-team territory, and is now the largest regional sports network in the country.

From 2002 to 2004, Hopkins was previously executive vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Gemstar-TV Guide. He worked previously at FOX Cable Networks, where he was senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing. Earlier, he was vice president of national accounts for FOX/Liberty Networks. And before that, he was vice president of affiliate relations for FOX Sports West and FOX Sports West 2.

He began his cable television career at CNBC in 1989, in affiliate relations.

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