Ex-Current COO Lines Up Lifestyle Network

LOS ANGELES: Mark Goldman, formerly COO of Current, the network co-founded by ex-U.S. VP Al Gore, is planning to launch a high-definition lifestyle network focused on yoga and wellness.

The new multimedia wellness company, BE, will be offering a revenue-sharing model to its broadcast, cable and Internet distribution partners. Goldman, the founding COO of Current Media and ex-president and COO of Sky Latin America, will serve as president and CEO of the new venture. The 24/7 BE Network has already lined up some talent, including John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga; Maya Fiennes, a star musician, yogi and TV personality in Europe; bestselling author Dr. Alejandro Junger, whose “open-minded medicine” practice has attracted Gwyneth Paltrow, among other celebs; Dr. Timothy Brantley, author of The Cure; and Sophie Keller. The target audience for the new network is women aged 30 to 65. Content will be focused on yoga and dance, nutrition, alternative healing, holistic medicine, stress reduction, beauty, anti-aging and more. The prime-time lineup will feature successful TV formats re-made with wellness themes.

“As healthcare costs continue to spiral and threaten to overtake housing as the largest component of personal spending, people are increasingly looking for ways to incorporate well-being into their lifestyle, including seeking out experts and purchasing a growing array of wellness products and services,” Goldman said. “BE Network has assembled a highly dynamic and successful group of talented individuals who have built significant followings through the strength of their personalities, as well as the core principles of well-being around which they base their lives. Our innovative business model provides a powerful media platform for these individuals to gain exposure, along with a way for distributors to participate in the advertising and merchandising opportunities that evolve from it.”