Sean Bratches
 Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
ESPN, Inc.

Sean Bratches was promoted to executive vice president, sales and marketing, ESPN on October 6, 2005. His new position combines into one division ESPN's two primary revenue streams, affiliate and advertising sales, supported by marketing, research and client support services.

In this role, Bratches oversees all affiliate distribution, licensing, marketing and local advertising sales for the domestic cable and satellite networks of The Walt Disney Company: ABC Family, Disney Channel, SOAPnet, Toon Disney, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes and ESPN HD. He also is responsible for the domestic distribution of related HDTV, broadband, video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand, interactive television, pay-per-view, Spanish-language, and sports syndication products. In addition, Bratches oversees ESPN's research department, which serves as a vital link between the company's strategic planning and the constantly shifting marketplace, as well as the company's special event marketing department.

Previously, Bratches served as president, Disney and ESPN Networks affiliate sales and marketing. Under his leadership, ESPN has become the industry leader in creating affiliate value by strategically leveraging its core brand, while creatively integrating a number of high-profile brand extensions, including ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN Outdoors/B.A.S.S., ESPN owned events and the ESPN Zone, ESPN's sports-themed dining and entertainment complexes.

Bratches joined ESPN in October 1988 as an account executive and within a year was promoted to senior account executive. He earned several more promotions before becoming senior vice president, affiliate sales and marketing in 1998, and then was promoted to executive vice president, ESPN affiliate sales and marketing in 2001.

Bratches, who earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology, has been named to the CableFAX 100, the publication's annual list of "Cable's 100 Heavy Hitters," every year since 1999. In 2001, he received the Vanguard Award for Young Leadership, the cable industry's most prestigious award.

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