Position Summary: MLB Network seeks a Specialist, Affiliate Operations with strong knowledge and passion for baseball and hockey as well as the cable and media industries. The Specialist, Affiliate Operations will spearhead affiliate technical/operational efforts (including but not limited to: launch authorizations, blackout implementation, VOD and TV Everywhere) for MLB Network and NHL Network with traditional and virtual MVPDs worldwide.

Responsibilities:

• Organize launch authorizations and perform blackout-related activity and responsibilities for MLB Network and NHL Network– primary internal liaison and external communicator to affiliates
• Manage and coordinate technical distribution of Strike Zone
• Oversee planning, distribution and reporting of MLB Network and NHL Network VOD products
• Project manage current processes and new processes for blackout implementation on digital and virtual platforms
• Ensure distribution of MLB Network and NHL Network across contracted league and club hotels nationwide
• Serve as primary affiliate liaison to external delivery and transmission partners (e.g. Comcast Wholesale, Encompass, Vubiquity, etc.)
• Prepare all daily and weekly affiliate blackout communication
• Prepare team territory lists for distribution to NOC Supervisors
• Prepare bonus coverage charts and notifications
• Create and maintain team territory maps
• Manage bonus coverage re-tunes with external affiliated MVPDs and internal contacts (Operations and NOC Supervisors)
• Attend Conditions meetings, work with NOC Director to write and communicate daily plans for Master Control operators
• Assist or provide backup to NOC Supervisor for re-tunes of IRDs on game days
• Support CP or producer on blackout rules for bonus coverage and regionalization
• Review all VimBiz reports for blackout, headend signal or affiliate issues
• Follow-up calls with headend techs and engineers at the systems and regional offices
• Follow up on blackout discrepancies – gather information for management and troubleshoot when necessary.
• Resident expert on TV Everywhere and emerging technologies as used in the industry to executive team when necessary
• Answer general questions from affiliate sales hotline
• Provide backup to technical hotline
• Other such duties as required

Skills & Experience: The ideal candidate must have most if not all of the following skills and experiences:

• A minimum of 4-6 years’ experience in cable affiliate sales and marketing, sports media, and/or media operations is required.
• Candidate must be proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Candidate must be familiar with MLB and NHL broadcast territories and apply knowledge effectively.
• Ability to work effectively with Production, Engineering and Broadcasting departments.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must possess a high level of attention to detail and superior follow up skills.
• Must be available evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Individual must work well in a dynamic environment and be able to recommend and implement process improvements.
• Demonstrate the tact, diplomacy, decisiveness, and superior people skills required in the pressurized environment of live television.
• Must be extremely organized, detail-oriented and able to work across multiple projects, and across entire organization.
• Ability to organize and schedule work effectively.
• Ability to work well independently and under time constraints.
• Successful at effective multi-tasking.
• Strong leadership experience.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. Positive can-do attitude with demonstrated creativity, initiative and persistence.
• Ability to persuade and resolve problems in a professional manner.
• Ability to travel domestically and/or internationally as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Possess the manual dexterity needed to effectively create required work product.
• Possess the visual acuity needed to effectively create required work product.
• Possess the auditory acuity needed to effectively create required work product.

Education: Bachelor’s degree is required.