Jim Cuddihy serves as named EVP – Programming, Marketing, and Affiliate Relations for the Mid Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).
MASN produces more than 400 live events per year, including 320 live MLB games, 50 NCAA basketball games and live NCAA football and lacrosse and is distributed to over 5.4 million subscribers on the east coast.
Jim’s initial task first as a consultant and then as EVP was to formulate operating and capital budgets, project revenues, hire staff, program the network and design an HD facility. Once he came on board, the first challenge was to convert a ‘games-only’ channel into a 24/7 operation within a six week period. In only his first year, Jim negotiated to make MASN The Official Cable Network of Georgetown Basketball, George Mason Basketball, University North Carolina Wilmington Basketball, BB&T Basketball Classic, the Baltimore Ravens, and the John Riggins Show/Redskins Radio Network.
After being a part of the MASN launch for 16 months Jim was asked to lead the marketing and affiliate relations departments. Because of Jim’s experience in the RSN world (now 15 years) and his eight years of experience working for Comcast, the owner felt he was best suited to be the main contact for all of the MVPDs.
However, Jim is still currently very active in approving the MASN on-air look – in-game graphics, set design, special in game and pre/post game features and music. Jim interviews the potential talent and has major input into who gets hired.
In his current role, he is in charge of production budgets for all MASN’s creative services. This includes budgeting for major production shoots and negotiations with production houses. Besides overseeing an advertising budget of approximately $3.5 million per year, Jim is intimately involved with all negotiations with MASN’s over the air partners.
Jim is the point person for all matters involving Comcast and DirecTV. He has played major roles in resolving MASN’s recent carriage disputes with both Time Warner and Comcast.
Before he was EVP of MASN, Jim helped to launch the Interactive TV Network as its President/C.E.O and helped that company achieve patent protection.
Jim was also President of SportsWorx, Inc., a television consulting and sales entity that provides services to major professional sports organizations. From Oct. 2005-Feb. 2006, Jim worked exclusively for Orioles owners Peter Angelos and his son John Angelos.
Prior to SportsWorx, and for four years, Jim was the VP for Programming, Production and Operations at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Jim began his tenure at CSN Mid-Atlantic in 2001 with the development and launch of the operation. Jim oversaw the expansion of CSN’s game broadcasts – over 315 live events per year.
Jim joined CSN Mid-Atlantic operation from Philadelphia’s CSN, where he had been Executive Producer since that network’s launch in 1997.
Prior to joining Comcast, he was President and CEO of Sportstar Productions, a Philadelphia-based production company which produced national, regional, and local sports shows. Before that, Jim served KYW-TV3, an NBC/CBS affiliate in Philadelphia, for eight years in various production roles.
Jim is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications.
Jim lives in Maryland with his wife Kristin, a teacher, and their two children – Madeline, 16 and Thomas, 13.
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