ABC Radio Changes to ABC Audio as its Umbrella Brand

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 23, 2019

ABC Audio

ABC Radio is changing to ABC Audio as its umbrella brand. VP/GM Stacia Philips Deshishku says that "Audio" is a natural evolution of its branding, recognizing that technology is evolving, but the value the of the company's work remains constant. "The power of radio remains critical to our business, as does the ABC News Radio brand within ABC Audio. Our 1,600+ affiliate stations can continue to expect nothing less than the same ABC News Radio products and services that they know and trust," she wrote in a staff memo.

ABC Audio will house all of its products, including its heritage news product, ABC News Radio, a new on-demand content team, an Affiliate Solutions group, a growing business development department, sales integration operation and an FM entertainment team.

With the move, Heidi Oringer is been promoted to Executive Director of Business Strategy, Programming and Distribution and Abe Velez has been promoted to Director of Business Development and Strategy.

Oringer began her career at ABC as an overnight writer for morning radio, developing the morning prep services that came to be known as Air Power, now with over 300 affiliates. She served as Director of Entertainment for ABC News Radio when ABC was the first radio outlet to broadcast a live two-hour national show from a solo platform on the Academy Awards Red Carpet. Most recently Heidi was the Director of Affiliate Solutions.

Velez played a vital role in the 2015 network relaunch of ABC Radio. He's also collaborated with Oscar-winning composer Leo Sidran to produce the theme for "Start Here." A native New Yorker, Abe received his MBA with Distinction from the NYU Stern School of Business. Posts prior to ABC included LimeWire, Palm Pictures, Sony Music, and independent documentaries including A Jihad for Love.