Julie Sobieski

Julie Sobieski

Julie Sobieski joined ESPN as an intern in 1998 and has quickly elevated through the ranks of the company’s programming department.  She was promoted to her current role of vice president, programming and acquisitions, in 2007.  Sobieski is one of ESPN’s core programming executives responsible for the overall direction of ESPN’s content across a wide variety of platforms.  She also sets strategic planning and oversees the day-to-day management of ESPN’s business relationship with Major League Baseball and motorsports including NASCAR, the IndyCar Series and NHRA.

Sobieski continues to be a pivotal leader in the evolution of ESPN’s MLB coverage which introduced several new elements in 2011 including a season-long commitment to Baseball Tonight on the road for Sunday Night Baseball telecasts, new commentator teams across Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball, the introduction of a new Baseball Tonight studio and increased baseball video content across digital platforms.  Sobieski will be a central figure as ESPN seeks opportunities to extend its involvement with MLB beyond the 2013 season.

Sobieski also leads ESPN’s business initiatives across motorsports categories and has held a critical role in several progressions within NASCAR: the re-launch of the Chase for the Sprint Cup; the migration of races from ABC to ESPN, promoting more continuity and appointment viewing for fans; the launch of “NASCAR Nonstop,” in which ads appear side-by-side with race coverage during traditional commercial breaks; and the expansion of digital rights. The changes contributed to ESPN’s increased viewership across the board for NASCAR races in 2011, including the 2011 finale generating the network’s largest Sprint Cup viewership ever. Additionally, Sobieski oversaw ABC’s extension with IndyCar through 2016.

In addition to her programming responsibilities, Sobieski was elected to champion “ESPN Women,” the company’s employee resource group charged with striving to make ESPN the premier organization for women in sports, media and business.

Sobieski’s steady rise included being appointed director, programming and acquisitions, in 2002; program manager in 2001; strategic program manager in 2000; and program planning coordinator in 1999. 

Aside from MLB and motorsports, Sobieski has being directly involved with a wide variety of areas including tennis (WTA, ATP, USTA, the French Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon); horse racing (including the Triple Crown, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup); ESPN outdoors and setting the programming strategy for ESPN2.

Sobieski was graduated from Springfield (Mass.) College in 1999 with a bachelor of science degree including a major in general studies and a double minor in biology/chemistry and business administration with a concentration in sports management.