Laura Dames is senior vice president of marketing operations for TBS, TNT and TCM. In this unique role she oversees many critical functions for the networks including leading the vision and strategy for the formatting of all programming, on air promotion asset management, and all sponsorships, marketing partnerships and promotions for national advertisers and distribution affiliates. Dames’ marketing operations department is divided in to four main areas of responsibility: — On-air operations, which involves setting the philosophy and process for the prioritization, allocation and placement of all on-air and cross-channel marketing assets. — Programming operations, which includes the strategy and process of formatting all network programming to create the best viewer experience while maximizing revenue potential and serving as key contact for national ad sales strategic planning and network broadcast operations. — Ad sales marketing, this includes the strategic development and execution of all national ad sales sponsorships, promotions, and marketing efforts as well as the production of Turner Entertainment Network’s annual Upfront events and communication. — Affiliate marketing which includes leading the networks’ affiliate strategy as well as day to day marketing efforts to support our affiliates including development and execution of affiliate marketing partnerships and promotions that help build our partners businesses and extend our network brands. Dames is based in Atlanta and reports to Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. Previously, Dames served as vice president of marketing operations for TNT, where she was responsible for identifying and managing the use of Time Warner assets to strengthen the marketing and promotional efforts for TNT’s programming and branding initiatives. Her work in this area included managing the use of host and cross on-air time on the Turner networks, as well as identifying the resources available to the company from other areas of Time Warner. Additionally, in this role she oversaw all ad sales and affiliate trade marketing efforts including the development and execution of all trade related marketing initiatives. Prior to that role, Dames was director of marketing for TNT overseeing the development, and implementation of marketing strategies and multi-platform marketing and promotion campaigns for TNT’s award-winning Original films, specials and trade initiatives. Dames, who joined Turner Broadcasting in 1992, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor of arts in communication and a certificate in film studies. TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television’s top-rated comedy network. It serves as home to such hot contemporary comedies as Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Seinfeld and Friends; original comedy series like My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show, 10 Items or Less and The Frank Show; specials and special events, such as Funniest Commercials of the Year and The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases. Turner Network Television (TNT), television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including the acclaimed detective drama The Closer, starring Golden Globe winner and Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, a bold new drama starring Oscar®-winner Holly Hunter; Heartland, a powerful medical drama with Treat Williams and Kari Matchett; and this summer’s eagerly anticipated television event The Company, executive-produced by Ridley Scott and starring Chris O’Donnell, Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina. TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Without a Trace, Law & Order, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is also available in high-definition. Turner Classic Movies, currently seen in more than 75 million homes, is a 24-hour cable network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a TimeWarner company. TCM presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from the largest film library in the world, the combined Time Warner and Turner film libraries, from the ‘20s through the ‘90s, commercial-free and without interruption. Expanding TCM’s role as a curator of movie history, the network recently launched TCMdb, one of the Internet’s most media-rich interactive movie database. For more information, please visit tcm.com. Court TV, a Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. company, provides a window on the American system of justice through distinctive programming that both informs and entertains. Seen in 86 million U.S. homes, Court TV Networks is comprised of Court TV News, which provides live trial coverage in daytime; Court TV: Seriously Entertaining in prime time, featuring investigative drama, expert reality and compelling non-fiction series; and Court TV Extra, a subscription Web-based service offering viewers an interactive opportunity to watch multiple live trials on the Internet, while accessing the tremendous resources of Court TV Online. The Court TV Web sites can be accessed via www.courttv.com. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a TimeWarner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.
