As the television industry’s premier international independent program representation firm, CABLEready strives to develop quality original programming and distribute successful program libraries and series franchises, while growing our clients’ business…and having fun doing it!

President & CEO Gary Lico founded CABLEready in 1992 to represent existing program libraries and to develop original program ideas for the growing number of US cable networks… at just the right time. Prior to launching CABLEready, Gary spent seven years at Columbia Pictures Television, serving as Vice President, Eastern Region, and prior to that as Vice President, Programming for Katz Communications, aiding TV stations across the US in buying and scheduling programming. Other accomplishments include guiding TVS Television from a sports packager to entertainment syndicator; launching Disney’s first syndication of The New Mickey Mouse Club at sfm Entertainment; and serving as both co-host and co-producer of top-rated daily talk series A New Day on WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee. Gary received his M.S. in TV/Radio/Film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University (where he also taught writing and announcing, and today, endows an annual scholarship) and his B.A.A. in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University. Full bio.

Lou Occhicone wears several hats in his role as CABLEready‘s Senior Vice President of Operations. His responsibilities range from overseeing the daily operations of the company and its growing sales services staff to management of all contracts, original program development, and coordination of convention activities.

Regarding the development of original programming, Mr. Occhicone has served as the executive in charge of production for Intersections (CABLEready’s first original television series and played an instrumental role in the broadcast deal for the show with SPEED Channel) and for The Minimalist series which features noted food expert and author, Mark Bittman. Intersections, which focuses on the stories of two people on two different missions with the support of two very different machines, received an initial 12 episode order following the successful airing of its pilot episode on SPEED Channel. Full bio.

Television industry veteran Peter De Jong serves as CABLEready‘s Vice President, Sales & Development. In addition to his responsibilities regarding territorial sales, he co-manages the company’s original programming activities, working closely with its partners in the development of new content for the global marketplace. He joined the company in the fall of 2010.

Prior to joining CABLEready, Mr. De Jong was an executive for nearly two decades with the AETN organization. As AETN’s director of programming since 2005, Mr. De Jong was responsible for the processes by which all AETN content was made available for worldwide distribution through web sites, catalogs, and production of programming highlight reels. Full Bio.

John Casey is CABLEready‘s Vice President of Finance. Prior to joining CABLEready, Casey served as finance manager with Comcast’s Outdoor Life Network and Speedvision, where he was in charge of budgeting, forecasting, and corporate financial reporting for the company. His fifteen years of broad-based business experience in finance and management encompasses media, technology and banking industries. John is responsible for all financial functions of the company including planning, compliance, benefits administration and financial aspects of contractual obligations. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Central Connecticut State University.

Tatiana Figueiredo serves as CABLEready’s Director of Sales and also co-manages the company’s original programming activities, working closely with its partners in the development of new content for the global marketplace.

Ms. Figueiredo is responsible for the territories of Africa, Asia, Central/Eastern Europe and Latin America. In addition, she services existing clients and is also instrumental in researching and actively pursuing new sales leads.

Ms. Figueiredo joined CABLEready as a sales representative in 2009 from Message from the Heart where she was also a sales representative. In this position she was responsible for independently managing and scheduling all client visits and communication. Prior to that she coordinated activities at the Latin American TV Sales arm of BBC Worldwide.

Ms. Figueiredo is fluent in Portuguese and has advanced knowledge of Spanish. Ms. Figueiredo received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Fordham University.

An integral part of the CABLEready team for the last decade, Eric Benitez serves as Vice President of Operations for both CABLEready and CABLEready Productions.

Mr. Benitez assists in rights management for CABLEready and clients’ technical needs while also managing the day-to-day operations of CABLEready Productions which was formed in 2008. Mr. Benitez was integral in the planning and launch of the new company. Earlier in his stint with the company he served as Director of Operations and he reports to Senior Vice President of Operations Lou Occhicone.

Prior to joining CABLEready, Mr. Benitez served as Commercial Coordinator for Paid Programming for both OLN (now Versus) and Speedvision (now SPEED).

To discuss program licensing opportunities, please contact Gary Lico – US, UK, Germany and Scandinavia – at +1-203-855-7979 x365 or Peter De Jong – Western Europe, Middle East and Pacific Rim – at +1-203-855-7979 x366 or Tatiana Figueiredo – Asia, Africa, Latin America and CEE – at +1-203-855-7979 x376.

To discuss our representation of your programs, please contact Lou Occhicone at +1-203-855-7979 x369.