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.

As CABLEready‘s Senior Vice President of Operations, Lou Occhicone is responsible for the daily operations of the company, overseeing the growing sales services staff, management of all contracts, original program development, and coordination of convention activities. As well, Mr. Occhicone oversees the operations of CABLEready Productions and spearheaded the launch of the company in August 2008. He is also a Managing Partner in CableU, a cable programming research company that on an ongoing basis monitors, analyzes and issues in-depth reports on network performance and programming trends. In 2008 he was honored by being named to Fairfield County Business Journal’s Fairfield County’s Top 40 under 40. Full bio.

As CABLEready‘s Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Peter De Jong is responsible for territorial sales and developing new marketing strategies. Prior to joining CABLEready, Mr. De Jong had been with A&E Television Networks (AETN) for nearly two decades. Since 2005, he served as AETN International’s director of programming where he 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. He had oversight of the division’s program acquisitions, negotiations involving program sales to U.S. government services and Canadian broadcasters, and setting strategy with channel partners concerning programming content aimed at accelerating viewership ratings and revenue goals. He began his career at TMP Worldwide as an advertising account representative. Mr. De Jong graduated from Washington College in Maryland.

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 is responsible for licensing programs to the territories of Africa, Asia, Central/Eastern Europe and Latin America. In addition to servicing existing clients, she is instrumental in researching and actively pursuing new sales leads and opportunities for the company. She also plays an active role on CABLEready’s acquisitions and development team.

Before CABLEready, Tatiana held a sales position at Message from the Heart where she was responsible for all U.S. sales and marketing for the company. Prior to that she worked with the Latin American TV Sales team of BBC Worldwide in New York.

Tatiana is fluent in Portuguese and knows Spanish. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Latin American Studies 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.