Lauren Zalaznick: Meet The Exec Behind Bravo's Transformation Into A Power Network

New York Times:

Lauren Zalaznick, the woman behind the surging success of cable television's Bravo network is, in many ways, a model of the channel's viewers:

She is wealthy, well-educated and attentive to fashion, food and pop culture. At 44, she's inside Bravo's demographic of viewers from 18 to 49, and her opinions have considerable influence on the people around her.

She is, in short, an "affluencer" -- a gimmicky word Ms. Zalaznick said she made up, combining affluence and influence -- to describe Bravo's core audience.

"Who doesn't want to be that person with the cute boyfriend and the hot cellphone?" Ms. Zalaznick said in an interview in her spacious and eclectically decorated office at NBC headquarters in Manhattan. "You want to influence people, and you want to have money. It's like America."

Bravo is apparently speaking to more and more of America -- or at least an upscale, urban part of it, largely female and also including, Ms. Zalaznick acknowledged, a significant number of gay men.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[javaman]

I worked at bravo back in the early days, in the mid 80's. It was a real quality network back then.

so if "power network" means having commercials, bullshit reality shows, crap art programs and whatever bullshit they decide to serve up and call it cutting edge, they can have it.

All she did was take a good quality format and dumb it down to the lowest commond denominator. much like what the gop did to the presidency.

[michelvaillant]

Yes, bravo turned from an occasional-artsi-film channel to a nearly constant reality show broadcast. "It's like America" indeed.

[feo]

Bravo and A&E started as good ideas but have succumbed to silliness and stupidity. Bickering chefs getting tattoos from gaylez clothing designers while watching crime reenactments.

[ugmold]

I use to like Bravo, I never watch it now