AT&T Appoints New Programming Director for Broadband Video Products

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced the appointment of Anne Lakstigala as senior director of programming, managing content acquisition for the company’s portfolio of broadband video products.

Lakstigala, who joins the AT&T programming team based in Los Angeles, will report to Amy Friedlander-Hoffman, AT&T senior vice president of programming. As part of the company’s initiative to deliver programming to the three screens at the center of customers’ lives — the TV, the PC and the wireless device — Lakstigala will work to extend relationships with content providers to distribute programming over AT&T broadband and wireless services, including AT&T U-verseSM OnTheGo, AT&T HomezoneSM video-on-demand (VOD) content and AT&T Broadband TV.

“Anne makes a wonderful addition to the AT&T programming team, which is committed to bringing compelling entertainment to our customers across devices and platforms,” said Dan York, AT&T head of content and programming. “Anne’s background in content licensing and advertising for TV, broadband and mobile services is valuable as we continue to expand and enhance our broadband video offerings.”

Lakstigala joins AT&T from Akimbo Systems, an Internet Protocol (IP)-delivered VOD content aggregator and facilitator, where she served as head of content acquisitions. While there, she secured deals with popular television networks, distribution companies and niche content providers for broadband delivery and digital download services. Before her position at Akimbo Systems, Lakstigala oversaw the wholesale division of BASE, where she was responsible for licensing BASE’s mobile network infrastructure to third parties to launch branded mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), including a licensed MVNO deal with MTV Networks’ VIVA in Germany.

Lakstigala has more than 12 years of domestic and international experience in content licensing and advertising in TV, Internet search and mobile telecommunications for companies such as Disney Channel/ABC Cable Networks, Yahoo®/Launch Music, AltaVista Europe and Espotting. As an affiliate sales and marketing executive at Disney Channel/ABC Cable Networks, Lakstigala was responsible for converting the popular Disney Channel from a paid to basic network, and she also launched a number of new digital channels across several U.S. cable operators. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego.

AT&T Entertainment Services is a new division focused on delivering innovative and unique entertainment services and multiplatform advertising and commerce opportunities across the three screens. The AT&T Entertainment Services group represents the intersection of the company’s vision to be the premier communications and entertainment provider.