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Game Changers

Game Changers: Jennifer Sabatelle

Photo: JOHN FILO / CBS

J
ennifer Sabatelle sat on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the Television Critics Association tour earlier this summer and surveyed the crowd. She was moderating a panel on “Thursday Night Football” and was courting the entertainment press to help get her message out.

“This is not a world that we’re accustomed to dealing with,” Sabatelle said. “It demonstrates how much this position has grown and changed. It’s no longer just about publicity.”

Jennifer Sabatelle
CBS SPORTS
It’s about coordinating all of CBS Corp.’s assets and making sure that they speak with the same voice.

CBS Sports executives have described the level of promotion around “Thursday Night Football” as the biggest in the network’s history, and the division has put its faith in Sabatelle, senior vice president, communications, to oversee the rollout.

“During the last few years, Jen has expertly managed our unprecedented communications efforts, first with our joint partnership with Turner on the NCAA tournament, followed by our first-ever corporate Super Bowl collaboration in New Orleans,” said CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus. “Jen’s experience and relationships, not only with the media but with our partners, is invaluable as we launch another huge companywide undertaking this fall with ‘Thursday Night Football.’”

To that end, Sabatelle was slated to deal with seven crews for the first “Thursday Night Football” game Sept. 11 in Baltimore — from “CBS This Morning” and local affiliate stations to “Entertainment Tonight” and “Inside Edition.” And it doesn’t stop there. Sabatelle has secured a “Thursday Night Football”-themed category for an episode of “Jeopardy!” that will air next month as well.

— John Ourand

  • Biggest professional achievement: The 2011 NCAA tournament, which was our first year in partnership with Turner Sports. We collaborated on an extensive and unprecedented media strategy, as two companies came together to create one message and educate the media and fans on how to watch in the new format with the games broadcast across four networks.
  • Best advice received: While working at the NFL, I was torn between staying at the NFL or joining CBS Sports. Mike Pereira, then the head of NFL officiating, advised me to go to CBS and spread my wings and gain more experience. I am very happy I took his advice.
  • Career turning point: December 2010, when I was promoted to vice president of communications.
  • Favorite social media/app for business use: Hootsuite.
  • Favorite social media/app for personal use: FitStar.
  • Outside of work and family, I’m spending a lot of my time on … : Improving my golf game or working out.

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