Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

Moving on UP. UP TV has announced that Amy Winter will join the network on February 1 as executive vice president and general manager, a newly created position. She will oversee and creatively guide the network’s brand and programming, including the development and production of scripted series and movies, non-scripted series. She also shape the networks scheduling and acquisitions and its digital and social media properties. Winter will be based in UP’s Atlanta headquarters and will report to Charley Humbard, president and CEO, UP.

Winter, a 24-year television executive, joins UP from Discovery Communications, where she most recently was EVP/general manager of TLC. She has consulting with UP since last May  and has already refreshed UP’s on-air look,  including its logo mark.  In addition, she has greenlit two new UP original series, including the new family reality Bringing Up Bates which, as noted here, debuted to very strong ratings. She also okayed Ties That Bind, the network’s first scripted series which is currently in pre-production for an expected summer launch.

In singing her praises, Humbard says “Amy Winter is a one of a kind media executive.  She combines an intuitive sensibility for understanding what viewers like to watch and how to communicate with them, with a strategic operational discipline for focusing on what drives ratings and revenue.  She is a proven winner having created some of the most memorable and noteworthy series and marketing campaigns in cable’s recent history.  Amy is the right person to lead our content and marketing areas and to further shape our distinct brand identity which promises to always uplift you and your family.”

As for Winter, she says “I am thrilled to join UP, a network that offers a unique promise to an audience searching for content they can enjoy and feel good about, whether they are seeking stories that matter and add meaning to their lives, or simply want to exhale with something fun.  I look forward to working with the talented team at UP to create new series and movies for our viewers and their families.”

UP  can be seen in 67 million homes on cable systems and satellite providers across the United States in both standard and high-definition.  Along with its mission to entertain, uplift and inspire viewers, UP’s pro-social initiative “Uplift Someone” reminds and inspires people to do simple acts of kindness.   Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC and provides sales and operations services to Magic Johnson’s ASPiRE network which offers inspiring programming specifically targeted toward the African-American audience. 

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11