By David Swarts

Speedvision announced today via the www.speedvision.com website that Jim Liberatore, 39, has been named President, Speedvision Networks. Fox Sports Television Group CEO and Chairman David Hill and Fox Cable Networks Group CEO and Chairman Jeff Shell made the announcement in one of the first moves following the buyout of Speedvision by Fox. Liberatore comes from within Fox, having served as Vice-President and General Manager of the Florida-based Sunshine Network since 1995 and as Vice-President of Advertising Sales for Madison Square Garden and the Madison Square Garden Network. Sunshine and MSG are both part of the Fox Sports Cable Network. Liberatore replaces Roger Werner, the founder and original President of Speedvision.

Regarding Liberatore’s assignment, the announcement states “one of his first responsibilities will be an analysis and development of a potential relocation and re-launch of the popular motorsports network to further capitalize on Fox Television’s highly successful association with NASCAR.”

On the change in Speedvision President, the site quotes Hill as saying “I’ve known Roger Werner throughout his sports career, and appreciate his passion for building successful new ventures like Speedvision. Nobody could have managed the initial phase of the network any better, so we all thank him and his team for their contributions. Now, it’s time for Jim to take the wheel, and together we’ll all see what interesting things we can come up with for Speedvision’s current fans, as well as the huge new group that NASCAR brings with it.”

Liberatore is quoted as saying, “The opportunity to take what I have learned at Sunshine at the regional level and apply it across Speedvision and NASCAR is a challenge I can’t wait to take on.”

The link to the Liberatore appointment announcement was found in the motorcycle section of the Speedvision website.