Lillian Urso-Vieira

Lillian Urso-Vieira is ESPN’s Senior Director of Affiliate Business Operations responsible for the distribution of the Disney and ESPN networks to cable, satellite and telco affiliates.  In this role, she oversees Blackouts, Regionalization and Market Protection of live event programming as well as video on demand, pay per view, Broadband and Syndication distribution operations.  She also manages administrative back office functions such as contract administration, billing and management reporting for the Disney and ESPN Media Networks Affiliate team for both the domestic and international business.

Lillian played a significant role in ensuring ESPN’s ability to regionalize  programming such as the NCAA Women’s tournament through execution of an equipment roll-out in 2001.  She worked closely with IT, Engineering and Programming to establish systems and workflow that ensure ESPN brings the best game action to its fans as well as meets its obligations to rights holders.    She has also been instrumental in creating numerous efficiencies for the Disney and ESPN Media Networks Affiliate Group by eliminating redundant processes and automating all while continuing to deliver a high standard of customer service to Disney and ESPN affiliates. 

Lillian began her career at ESPN in 1994, joining the Affiliate Sales and Marketing team.  She was promoted to manager in 1999 and began implementing the technical changes needed to support a growing distribution business.  She was promoted to Senior Director in 2002.  Under Lillian’s leadership the team has grown from three to twenty team members, increased product support from three to almost fifty products, grown to represent ABC Cable Networks Group as well as ESPN and expanded from domestic affiliate support to now cover global affiliate support.  

Prior to joining ESPN, Lillian worked for the Dun & Bradstreet Corp. as a Business Analyst.  A native of Wethersfield, CT, she received her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Connecticut.