Spike TV Founder Albie Hecht Named Head of HLN

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‘The Blacklist’ Review: Shades RELATED Hecht will begin new job Sept. 30 of Clarice Starling, but Spader Albie Hecht, the Spike TV founder and former president of Steals the Show Nickelodeon Entertainment, has been named executive vice president and general manager of HLN. ‘Breaking Bad’: Can Walter White Be Saved? Al Jazeera America Responds to Initial Low Ratings: Hecht, who is now the CEO of Worldwide Biggies, a digital Facebook’s Top 5 Most Social Emmys Moments Demand Is Strong for the (Exclusive) Network entertainment studio, will begin the job Sept. 30. He will oversee all aspects of HLN’s programming, management, and day-to-day Obama Interview Fails to The Best and Worst (and Worst-er) Emmys Moments Boost CNN's 'New Day' operations, as well as HLNtv.com. He will be based in New York Ratings and report to CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker. (He is pictured TheWrap Asks, Emmy Carpet Answers: What’s Your play-fighting with Muhammad Ali.) Dream Guest Role? (Video)

Also read: Cable Ratings: CNN, HLN Grow in 2nd Quarter TheWrap’s Complete Coverage of the 2013 Emmys While Fox News Dominates Emmys Make ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Modern Family’ Sweat “Albie is one of the most creative executives in our industry. His Before Delivering Gold Megyn Kelly Shakes Up the diverse experiences at Viacom gave him a keen understanding of Fox News Primetime cable television, where he created some of media’s most well Michael Douglas Offers to Split Emmy With Matt Schedule (Updated) known brands and franchises. All of that, coupled with his lifelong Damon: ‘You Want Top or Bottom?’ passion for news and information, makes him the perfect fit for HLN,” said Zucker. “I wanted someone who could build off the strength that currently exists at Emmys’ Best Backstage Quotes: Bryan Cranston, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and More HLN, which is enjoying one of its highest rated years ever, and evolve the network and its fast- growing digital properties even more.” Emmys Review: A Watchable Awards Show – in Spite of the Awards “Three key factors made the decision to join HLN easy: the opportunity to further evolve a noted brand, reinvent news in a digital age and work for Jeff, an industry giant,” said Hecht. ”Creating Emmys by the Numbers: Total Show and Network Wins engaging and buzzed about content across multiple platforms is in my DNA, and I am excited to make magic with the talented team at HLN.” VIDEO

Also read: CNN, HLN Ratings Down; Did Coming Out Help Anderson Cooper?

Hecht led the transition and rebranding of the former Nashville Network to Spike TV. As creator and president of Spike, he signed the “Ultimate Fighting Championship.” As president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, he oversaw the development of “SpongeBob Squarepants,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Blue’s Clues,” the live action show “All That,” “The Rugrats Movie” “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” which received an Oscar nomination. He also co-created Nickelodeon’s “Kids Choice Awards.”

He has also worked on documentary and nonfiction projects through his non-profit Shine Global, including the Academy Awardpwinning short documentary “Inocente,” as well as “War/Dance” which was nominated for an Academy Award and won an Emmy for Best Documentary.

Also read: ‘Joy Behar Show’ Won’t Be Renewed, HLN Confirms

This year, he became founding director of the New Media Lab at CUNY’s Macauley Honors College. On Sept. 25, he will be inducted into the CableFAX 2013 Program Hall of Fame.

September 22, 2013 By Wrap Staff TheWrap Asks, Emmy Carpet Answers: What’s Your Dream Guest Role? (Video) PLAY ALBIE HECHT HLN JEFF ZUCKER Stars on the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards' red...

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