HSN Names Bill Brand Executive Vice President, Programming, Marketing and Business Development

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb 19, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — HSN, a leading interactive lifestyle network and retail destination, today announced that Bill Brand, Executive Vice President of Programming and Advanced Services, has been promoted with an expansion of his responsibilities, which now include management for the Company’s Marketing and Business Development functions. Mr. Brand reports to Mindy Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

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In making the announcement, Ms. Grossman said, "Bill has been an integral member of HSN’s senior leadership team since joining the Company in 2006 and has been a key contributor to our growth through initiatives such as our fixed programming line up, which has driven viewership, and the creation of our off-network programming strategy, which will generate new revenue streams for the Company in the future. His keen appreciation for the power of the HSN brand combined with his expertise in connecting with consumers, make him the ideal person under whom to align these key strategic functions.

"In these challenging times, having the ability to draw from talent within our organization to play such a critical role and maintain momentum is invaluable," Ms. Grossman continued. "Bill has been part of the leadership team that has driven HSN’s turnaround over the last three years, and I continue to have great confidence in this team’s ability to navigate the current environment and chart HSN’s next chapter of growth."

Mr. Brand said, "A critical component of HSN’s development has been our ability to articulate and deliver a unique brand identity that differentiates the HSN experience for our customers. How we market ourselves, what we program, and our ability to reach consumers on every available platform will be key to shaping HSN’s future, and the prospect of leading this combination of functions, which are critical to HSN’s continued growth, is an exciting opportunity."

Mr. Brand’s responsibilities now span several areas key to the elevation and expansion of the HSN brand. As Head of Programming, he directs the strategy for the network’s lineup and identifies new programming concepts and opportunities around the Company’s key merchandising events. Additionally, he leads HSN’s off-network initiatives, such as EXTRA! Trendshopper Powered by HSN, which aired in syndication in May 2008 through a collaboration with EXTRA! and Telepictures, Inc. Mr. Brand will now also manage HSN’s Marketing team, which includes Brand Management, Customer Relations Management, Strategic Marketing Alliances and Public Relations, as well as Business Development, which identifies and cultivates new partnership and merchandising opportunities.

A well respected and highly creative innovator in television programming for 20 years, Mr. Brand joined HSN as Senior Vice President of Programming in late 2006, and added management of Advanced Services to his portfolio in November 2008.

Prior to HSN, Mr. Brand served as Senior Vice President of Reality Programming for Lifetime from 2001 to 2006 and was responsible for introducing an array of hit entertainment specials to the network. Previously, he was Vice President of Programming and Production at VH1 for five years, where he was a key contributor to the network’s rapid growth. Mr. Brand spent the first decade of his career in news management at local TV stations across the country and has received numerous awards including the Edward R. Murrow Award for "Best Large Market Documentary."

Mr. Brand received his B.S. degree in communications from Ohio University.