Crown adds Tribune’s Van De Walle

Hallmark Channel operator Crown Media Family Networks in the US has appointed a Tribune Media exec to work across its distribution business.

Patrick Van De Walle becomes director of distribution based in Crown Media’s Chicago office and reporting to Lisa Barroso, senior VP of distribution.

Van De Walle will be responsible for distributing Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries content through linear, OTT, VoD, TV everywhere and emerging platforms.

He will also develop and negotiate strategies to grow subscribers across both networks.

Barroso said: “Patrick’s thorough understanding of the rapidly evolving landscape makes him an excellent fit at Crown Media and I’m confident he will play an integral role in further maximising our networks’ distribution in both the linear and digital spaces.”

Van De Walle joins from Tribune, where he was VP of affiliate sales for the company’s central region, overseeing an 18-state territory.

Earlier this year Crown Media appointed Lifetime Networks executive Samantha DiPippo as its VP of development, with a remit to source and develop original scripted content for the two Hallmark channels.