ABC Radio has announced it has rebranded as ABC Audio.

VP/General Manager Stacia Philips Deshishku made the announcement in a shared memo. The brand will continue to encompass the content, ABC News Radio, prodcasts, show prep and digital content produced by the Disney owned company.

Also in the announcement was the promotion of Heidi Oringer to Executive Director of Business Strategy and Abe Velez to Director of Business Development and Strategy.

Team –
As summer comes to an end and fall approaches, it’s time for change both outdoors and here at ABC!

Today, we’re making official what has increasingly been done in practice — the use of ABC Audio in place of ABC Radio as our umbrella brand.

“Audio” is a natural evolution of our branding. It says “yes, and…” to the many, growing touchpoints for our journalism and stories. You’re all aware of the new platforms entering consumers’ lives, from podcast distribution to interactive voice and beyond. ABC Audio recognizes that technology is evolving, but the value of our work remains constant. So this is as much a commitment to our listeners that they will find our storytelling anytime and everywhere, as it is to you that your excellent work will continue to find the audiences it deserves.

And by the way, 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. So ABC Audio will house all that we have to offer: our industry-leading heritage news product, ABC News Radio; our new on-demand content team; our Affiliate Solutions group; the growing business development department; our sales integration operation; and our FM entertainment team.

I am also pleased to announce that Heidi Oringer has been promoted to Executive Director of Business Strategy, Programming and Distribution and Abe Velez has been promoted to Director of Business Development and Strategy.

Heidi began her career at ABC as an overnight writer for morning radio, developing the morning radio prep services that came to be known as Air Power, now with over 300 affiliated stations. 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, playing an integral role in growing ABC Radio’s roster to its current affiliate base and creating new programming and products, including the nationally syndicated The Deja Vu Show.

In the years since joining ABC in the newly-created Business Development function, there’s hardly been a partner deal that has not been vetted, modeled, negotiated, or wordsmithed by Abe. He played a vital role in the 2015 network relaunch of ABC Radio, and his creative instincts have further elevated him as a trusted leader. Stretching beyond his Business Development charge, he 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.

Please join me in congratulating Abe and Heidi! And thank you all for your patience as we work to re-think and re-design our team to better meet the opportunities in front of us. I will have more announcements regarding new hires, promotions and re-alignments soon. There is a lot of good stuff happening in our ever-expanding unit!

Cheers!
Stacia