Janice Marinelli

Member of the Board of Directors, The Nielsen Company; Board of Councilors, USC Annenberg

Janice Marinelli was responsible for all program sales operations and distribution of The Walt Disney Co. direct-to-consumer apps to global accounts and broadcasting partners worldwide. This included the global distribution of film and television programming via home entertainment, broadcasting platforms, digital platforms, SVOD, pay networks, Disney+, Hulu, and Movies Anywhere. Marinelli worked to maximize Disney’s opportunities in domestic and international media markets. Under her direction, the division distributed properties from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox Film, Fox Animation, Disney nature, ABC Studios, ABC Entertainment, National Geographic, FX Productions, 20th Century FoxTelevision, WABC, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior to broadcasters, digital services and other distributors around the world.

Fueled by the studio’s box office success, the division strategically leveraged new technologies and created a superior in-home viewing experience for its customers to drive both digital and physical ownership. She oversaw product development and marketing strategies for Disney’s portfolio of brands and franchises across all in-home platforms. As the architect and dealmaker behind Movies Anywhere, Marinelli drove the development of the free app and website that has revolutionized digital ownership by bringing the film libraries of five studios together in a virtual one-stop movie-watching shop. After Marinelli and her team successfully launched Disney Movies Anywhere in 2017, she subsequently brokered deals with Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. to join the initiative to transform digital movie purchase and engagement. She also spearheaded negotiations with digital retail partners Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, Microsoft, ATT, Comcast Xfinity and Verizon.

Marinelli joined The Walt Disney Company’s Buena Vista Television in 1985 as an account executive. She later served as director of sales, western division before assuming the role of senior vice president of sales. She was named executive vice president in 1996 and president in 1999. Marinelli was appointed as president of Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution in 2013 and was promoted to her last role in March 2018.

Since 2014 Marinelli serves on the Board of Councilors at USC Annenberg. She earned a BS degree at St John’s University.