Sean Cohan

Sean Cohan is President, International and Digital Media, A+E Networks.  He was elevated to this newly created role in January 2016.

 

Cohan oversees A+E Networks International Division – the company’s brands, content, and services outside the U.S.  He manages staff in New York, Los Angeles, London, Rome, Tokyo, and Singapore, and teams across 20 more cities.  The Division’s activities include branded channels, content sales and digital media distribution.  A+E Networks operates 75 branded channel feeds abroad and distributes a 13,000-hour library across more than 200 territories, in 39 languages on a range of platforms. 

 

He also manages A+E Networks’ Digital Media including all strategic, operational, editorial, social and distribution functions around digital media both in the United States and around the world. This includes all broadband and mobile elements of all A+E Networks brands, including video content, apps, websites, social media and games.  His team is responsible for A+E Networks’ popular websites History.com; aetv.com; mylifetime.com and FYI.com; TV Everywhere apps for Lifetime, A&E, History and FYI; History Vault™ and the Lifetime Movie Club™, A+E’s direct-to-consumer offerings; and partnerships with Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) and Download to Own (DTO) platforms, amongst other digital activities.         

 

In addition, this past spring, A+E Networks announced the launch of 45th & Dean, a multi-platform video and audio storytelling hub run which reports into Cohan.  45th & Dean is a full-service agency supporting brands, shows, advertising and distribution partners.  It is focused on content creation, distribution, measurement and audience development and branded content partners.  45th & Dean publishes daily content strategically produced and distributed for distinct audiences on specific platforms.  

 

Previously, Cohan held the title of Executive Vice President, International for A+E Networks.

Under his direction, A+E Networks has completed its global footprint in all markets where local law allows; launched 56 channels and a raft of owned and co-owned entities; established presence and new businesses in India, Southeast Asia, France, German-speaking Europe, Scandinavia, Benelux, Central Europe, and Russia; initiated global rollouts of Lifetime, A&E, CI, and H2 brands; and achieved a #1, 2, or 3 ranking in factual pay-tv in virtually every market.  Most recently, Sean oversaw the launches of the company’s first free-to-air (FTA) channel, Lifetime Turkey; FYI in India; and the first global FTA in the UK, Blaze, set to launch in fall 2016.

 

Cohan has also built a top factual content sales and formats organization; driven co-productions such as World Wars and Barbarians and acclaimed local versions for Seven Year Switch; Pawn Stars; Alone; Fit To Fat To Fit; he launched the largest global made-for-television movie distribution unit and a successful drama distribution effort, with critically acclaimed events such as Roots and Unreal.  Upcoming scripted dramas include Knightfall and Six.

 

Cohan was formerly Senior Vice President, International; Vice President, Business Development & Digital Media; and Director, International Business Development for A+E Networks. Previously, he held positions at Primedia, Morgan Stanley, NBC and A.T. Kearney.

 

Cohan has been recognized as part of CableFax‘s Most Influential Minorities in Cable, Multichannel News’ 40 Under 40, Digital TV Europe‘s Euro 50, and TelevisionWeek‘s Hot List, and been named a NAMIC Next Generation Leader and Luminary. As well, Cohan is a member of the BANFF board. A graduate of Harvard University, he holds an MBA from Stanford University.