BACK9NETWORK Retains Chris Lencheski to Oversee Sales Initiatives

Phoenicia Sport to Help Launch New Network

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Aug 27, 2014, 07:00 ET

HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BACK9NETWORK, the golf lifestyle multimedia network, announced today that it has retained industry pioneer Chris Lencheski to oversee the innovative new media organization's linear and digital sales initiatives. BACK9NETWORK launches nationally on DIRECTV, Sept. 29^th.

The Golf Lifestyle Network (PRNewsFoto/Back9Network)

Lencheski will lead his Phoenicia Sport team, comprised of seasoned sales, media and communications veterans, as part of an overall strategy for success. His group will focus on brand advertising strategy, inventory management, direct response, paid programming, and will also oversee growth of existing digital platforms as the network transitions to broadcast.

A 20-year industry veteran, Lencheski most recently served as the President of Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary Front Row Marketing and Front Row Analytics, the sports media commercial rights group inside the media giant. His experience there included providing direction to sports rights professionals in the Olympics, World Cup, America's Cup, stadium naming rights, NASCAR, and golf-related media concepts.

"We're excited to have Chris develop our commercial rights strategy, bringing his wealth of media and sponsorship sales, event management and brand strategy experience to BACK9NETWORK" said Carlos Silva, President and COO, BACK9NETWORK. "That experience will serve us well as we launch the nation's first golf lifestyle network in late September."

"This is an opportunity to contribute to a fresh perspective in golf and the lifestyle of a great game to advertisers," said Lencheski. "A new generation of young golf aficionados will see BACK9NETWORK as a place to discover where the latest trends in style, cutting edge technology, and equipment come together in a bold new home for those who follow, play and love the game of golf."

BACK9NETWORK will hit the airwaves next month with nearly 1,100 hours of original programming in its first year, including ten original primetime series, live morning, midday, and evening shows, as well as a variety of golf lifestyle programming covering travel, real estate, food, fashion, courses and equipment.

In conjunction with the network's launch, Lencheski's team will manage sales initiatives on all platforms. BACK9NETWORK has experienced tremendous digital growth with over two million monthly unique visitors to its web properties, including its Swing by Swing Golf GPS mobile app, acquired by the network in the first quarter of 2014.

Lencheski's Phoenicia Sport team is anchored by industry veteran John Dato who will work out of Phoenicia's New York City offices. He is a media sales and marketing professional with more than 20 years' experience. Matt Butler will cover the Midwest market. Matt offers a wealth of experience in the sports sales and corporate partnerships space. A West Coast director will be named shortly.

A team of specialists comprised of Suzy Da Silva, Lou Birdt and Allie Mitchell will supply key support for the BACK9NETWORK's sales team in multiple areas. Da Silva's experience in the sports direct response industry includes launching numerous golf companies such as Adam's Golf, GolfLogix, Medicus, Opti-shot and many others. Birdt has been in direct response TV and general market ad sales for over 10 years. He has played integral roles on the sales teams for a variety of programs such as Entertainment Tonight, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Inside Edition and many other programs.

Entertainment and sports industry communications, promotions and marketing veteran Bob Margolis will cover all aspects of BACK9NETWORK's internal sales marketing communications.

About BACK9NETWORK: BACK9NETWORK is a golf lifestyle cable television network and media company based in Hartford, Connecticut. BACK9NETWORK was developed as a complementary alternative to traditional media's focus on professional golf tournament coverage. Focused on compelling storytelling, interesting personalities, features and fashions, interviews and instruction, travel, gear and much more, fans of all kinds will want to hang with the BACK9NETWORK. BACK9NETWORK.com, the online clubhouse for BACK9NETWORK, delivers a fresh perspective on the golf lifestyle and its worldwide influence. BACK9NETWORK's leadership includes respected and outspoken executives from the golf and media industries. For further information, visit www.back9network.com.

About Phoenicia: Based in New York City with offices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, Dallas and London, United Kingdom; Phoenicia Sport & Entertainment (Phoenicia) is a specialized media, sports and entertainment management, brand-strategist, activation-marketing and commercial rights selling group using white glove solutions for best-in-breed clients. Phoenicia senior management offers global expertise with well-documented successes in sport at significant senior levels with experience serving the Olympics, Formula 1, Verizon IndyCar, Le Mans, NASCAR, MLB, Sport/Entertainment Licensing, NHL, Food Network, AT&T, Susan G. Komen, Comcast, Cablevision and the NFL. With Brandweek award-winning experience in sales promotion and activation and case studies from Coca-Cola to NASCAR displaying continued success for our client portfolio, Phoenicia is proud to support multiple charities and philanthropic endeavors.