Versus Hires Jamie Davis As President To Continue 10-Year Plan

Versus Hires Jamie Davis

Versus has hired former ESPN Star Sports Managing Dir JAMIE DAVIS as President, replacing outgoing President GAVIN HARVEY, according to John Ourand in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Davis, who previously also served as News Corp. China President, will begin work at the net in September. Comcast Programming Group President JEFF SHELL said that Davis "will not make wholesale changes." Shell added that he wants Davis to "further the network's strategy of focusing on exclusive programming." Shell: "We have a 10-year plan for Versus. We don't want to reposition the network." Ourand notes Davis started his TV career in '91 as CBS Sports Manager of Finance. He in '94 became Fox Sports VP/Business Operations, where he "helped the network add rights to the NHL and MLB," before starting his int'l career in '96 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/14 issue). MEDIAWEEK’s Anthony Crupi notes Harvey, in his four years at Versus, was the "architect of great change, transforming what was once known as Outdoor Life Network from a field-and-stream channel to a competitive sports-oriented service" (BRANDWEEK, 4/14 issue).