Deborah Blackwell

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Deborah Blackwell is an American television network executive who was primarily responsible for the rise of soap opera centric cable network, SOAPnet. With Blackwell, as general manager, the channel grew in distribution to more than 67 million homes and secured rights from NBC and CBS -in addition to owner ABC- to run same-day daytime soap episodes.

During her time as the head of SOAPnet the channel also acquired such primetime shows as One Tree Hill and The OC--and before that, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210 and Dallas. SoapNet also extended its stable of original programming -- including its first-ever scripted entry, a spinoff of General Hospital: Night Shift, and reality entry The Fashionista Diaries. Blackwell left SOAPnet in October of 2007. Brian Frons will oversee the operations of SOAPnet, in addition to ABC Daytime.