John Barbieri
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Rainbow Network Communications
As senior vice president and general manager of Rainbow Network Communications (RNC), John Barbieri oversees the day-to-day operations of RNC, Rainbow Media Holdings’ full-service technical division that provides origination and distribution services to more than 40 national and regional television programming channels. RNC operates out of the Rainbow Broadcasting and Technology Center, located in Bethpage, New York, a state-of-the-art technical marvel that consolidates both the origination and satellite communications functions in one 62,000 square foot facility.
Mr. Barbieri was named to this post in 2005. Under his leadership, RNC has designed and launched cutting-edge digital and HD distribution and origination operations currently being used by Rainbow Media’s AMC, IFC (The Independent Film Channel), Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central, MSG Varsity (owned by Cablevision, Rainbow Media’s parent company), as well as third party clients fuse, MSG Network, MSG Plus, MSG Varsity, and numerous other regional and national sports networks. RNC also oversees distribution and origination operations for Sundance Channel and WE tv’s global channels.
A 30-year veteran of the company, Mr. Barbieri has held numerous positions at both Cablevision Systems Corporation, Rainbow Media’s parent company, and at Rainbow Media. He most recently held the position of vice president of engineering for RNC. In that role, Mr. Barbieri was instrumental in the design, development, project management and implementation of The RNC Technology Center.
Mr. Barbieri began his career at Cablevision in 1980 as a service dispatcher and quickly moved into engineering. He joined Rainbow Media in 1985 as director of transmission and remote engineering for Rainbow Media’s Philadelphia-based sports service, PRISM. Mr. Barbieri joined RNC in 1987 and has held several positions of escalating responsibility, leading up to the position he holds today.
Mr. Barbieri earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Long Island University. He is a member of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).