Our Story

Page Contents: What we do / Latest sizzle reel / How CABLEready started / What we sell / Who we sell for / Who we sell to / What we look for / Philanthropy

WHAT WE DO

CABLEready sells a wide variety of content – including non-fiction programming from independent producers, content owners and cable television networks – to cable networks in the U.S. and to all television and video platforms around the world. CABLEready develops producers’ ideas into original programs and is the only company that super-serves U.S. cable television networks, including the targeted-niche and general entertainment networks.

CABLEready distributes that content and more to television networks, local channels and ancillary markets (video, airlines, cruise ships, VOD) outside the U.S. As well, the company’s executive team attends, exhibits and speaks at every major TV program market around the world. In addition to development and sales, CABLEready markets, promotes, negotiates and handles all accounts receivables and program materials with its production partners regularly receiving summaries of sales progress and results. All a producer has to do is create and produce! Partnering with the company pays dividends. In fact, CABLEready has generated nearly 100 million dollars in revenue on behalf of its roster of award-winning producers.

C21 Interviews Gary Lico about CABLEready celebrating it’s 20th anniversary.

OUR LATEST SIZZLE REEL

HOW CABLEready STARTED

In 1988, Gary Lico, then a VP, Sales for Columbia Pictures Television (now Sony Entertainment), was the lead salesman of the company’s vast catalog of series and movies to cable networks. Most studios still did not sell directly to the “basic” cable networks. Columbia was the first major Hollywood studio to do so. Lico sold MY TWO DADS, THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS, PUNKY BREWSTER and dozens of movies in what would become a model for future deals. Columbia closed nearly $50-million in cable sales in less than four years.

Cable networks were still struggling for programs in 1992 when Lico elected not to renew his contract and founded CABLEready, the first distribution company to focus exclusively on the growing number of cable networks, the “500 channel universe” predicted by Liberty’s John Malone. CABLEready would specialize on sourcing and selling programming to cable networks.

WHAT WE SELL

CABLEready immediately licensed CAPPELLI AND COMPANY to Nickelodeon as its first deal, Nick’s first and only license of a locally-produced TV program (Pittsburgh’s WTAE). The company later moved into development with the sale of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO and MEDICAL DETECTIVES, both of which are still successfully in production and distribution around the world after 15 years! Since its inception, CABLEready has developed and/or sold successful original programs such as: MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTERS, HOUSE OF BABIES, SASQUATCH, MONSTER QUEST, PICTURE THIS, INTERSECTIONS, RISK TAKERS, THE MINIMALIST and dozens more.

WHO WE SELL FOR

CABLEready represents a noted portfolio of producers: Burrud Films, CMJ Productions, Medstar Television, Michael Hoff Productions, KPI, Bosch Media, Buck Productions. CABLEready distributes programs from rights owners, studios and cable networks such as Lionsgate, DirecTV, The New York Times, National Geographic, TruTV (Turner), Weather Channel, Speed and Reelz.

WHO WE SELL TO

More U.S. cable networks have licensed more programs from CABLEready than any other distributor. For example: A & E, History, Bravo, Discovery, TLC, Travel Channel, HGTV, Cooking Channel, Food Network, Animal Planet, Discovery Health, TruTV and so many more. Around the world, our clients include Fox, NBC, AETN, NHK, UKTV, Zone CBS, Sky, Foxtel, TV4, Kanal 9, RTL, VOX, Planete, Orange, 5 UK … hundreds of major customers in over 130 countries around the world.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Producers with original ideas and the infrastructure to produce and deficit finance. Content owners with unexploited program rights in the U.S. and around the world. Currently, CABLEready specializes in nonfiction programming, with a particular emphasis on crime & investigation, as well as entertainment.

PHILANTHROPY

CABLEready is well regarded for its philanthropic efforts, including: the NATPE Food Project, grants to Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and Central Michigan University, the Emerging Producer’s Competition for NATPE. We also support the next generation of television executives by mentoring and teaching in countless schools across the country. Our executives are members and hold board seats with major industry organizations.

CABLEready is proud to remain an independent force in television for nearly two decades, dedicated to growing the businesses of its clients and contributing to make the industry and the world a more fun and fulfilling place.