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As President of SPEED, the nation’s first and foremost cable network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive, Hunter Nickell has been at the wheel for several major initiatives that have elevated SPEED into relevant and competitive positions in multiple arenas.
Negotiating the current eight-year deal with NASCAR, SPEED is now the exclusive home for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, giving SPEED events from the elite NASCAR Nextel Cup Series level for the first time in network history. Along with the raised profile on-air, Nickell also has generated increased SPEED programming and marketing presence at every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on the circuit, giving SPEED unmistakable leadership in on-site network visibility.
Nickell also secured multi-year deals with Formula One, AMA Supercross and other popular motor sports sanctioning bodies, securing SPEED’s longstanding position as the authority in motor sports news and entertainment.
In 2008, Nickell oversaw the design and development of the new SPEED purpose-built HD studios and headquarters in Charlotte, which opened for business in December of ’08.
Intensifying efforts behind automotive and motorcycle lifestyle programming, Nickell directed increased support and attention to titles including, PINKS All Out, Wrecked, Bullrun, and the network’s first automotive game show, Pass Time.
In addition to on-air efforts, Nickell is directing efforts to increase SPEED’s leadership position in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services.
Nickell came to SPEED in 2005 after 12 years as general manager of FSN South, where he oversaw the nation’s largest regional sports television network.
Nickell managed FSN South’s growth from its launch as SportSouth in 1990 to its role today in providing premium regional sports programming to 10.6 million homes in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In January 1997, Nickell directed the network’s transition to affiliation with FSN (Fox Sports Net).
Upon joining the network as director of affiliate sales and marketing in 1990, Nickell took responsibility for affiliate relations and overall marketing, as well as the media/public relations strategies for the network. He was promoted in 1992 to vice president of the same, and in 1993 was named vice president of Turner Sports Programming, Inc., and general manager of SportSouth.
Prior to joining Turner Sports, Nickell spent four years (1987-90) as director of affiliate sales and marketing for Crosby Vandenburgh Group, a contract-publishing firm with significant accounts in the cable television industry. For the preceding four years, he was an account executive for network sales with Home Box Office.
A native of Detroit, Nickell captained his Denison University ice hockey team and received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications in 1978. He served as an English teacher and ice hockey and lacrosse coach in Kents Hill, ME, and in New Canaan, CT, for five years preceding his move into cable television administration.
He and his wife, Kimberly, have three children – Andrew and twins –
Peter and Haley.
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