Chicagoland native brings more than 25 years of sports, digital media and network television experience

April 8, 2024

CHICAGO – Marquee Sports Network has named Diane Penny as its new Senior Vice President and General Manager effective April 15, 2024. A native of Villa Park, Illinois, Diane joins the network with more than 25 years of award-winning experience spanning sports, digital media and network television.

“Diane is a proven results-oriented leader with broad experience in the broadcast industry,” said Crane Kenney, President of Business Operations for the Chicago Cubs. “Her ability to build high performing teams, develop and execute growth strategies and deliver record financial performance propelled NBC Sports Northwest to become the #1 Sports Network in market. We are confident she will use that same resolve to help drive our continued success.”

Diane joins Marquee Sports Network after leading media and innovation for the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which is nominated for Sports Business Journal’s 2024 Sports Breakthrough of the Year.

Diane previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for NBC Sports Northwest, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the network — including production, digital, ad sales, operations, and marketing — as well as the relationship with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 2022, Diane served as a producer for the Beijing Olympics, earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Special at the XXIV Winter Games.

“I am excited to return home to Chicago and bring my passion and hands-on leadership to the network, where we will continue the mission to deliver engaging content and award-winning productions to super serve Cubs fans,” said Diane Penny. “Like many in the area, the Cubs were the first team I grew up following and it’s a dream role to now have this opportunity to join Marquee Sports Network.”

Prior to joining NBC Sports, Diane held various leadership roles at Learfield as Vice President, Digital and Television and General Manager of Power Five college sports businesses, including Oregon State University Athletics. Diane got her start in the industry as a producer for Good Morning America.

Diane graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and received an MBA in Marketing.

ABOUT MARQUEE SPORTS NETWORK: Launched in 2020, Marquee Sports Network is the exclusive local television home of the Chicago Cubs. Named the 2022-23 RSN of the Year by Cynopsis Media, Marquee Sports Network has been nominated for 37 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, recognizing its commitment to Cubs game coverage, minor league content, documentaries and historical programming. Marquee Sports Network is available as part of a cable or streaming package through more than 60 providers, or as a standalone subscription offering through WatchMarquee.com and the new Marquee Sports Network App. In addition to the Chicago Cubs, Marquee Sports Network is a proud broadcast partner of the Chicago Bears (NFL), Chicago Sky (WNBA), Chicago Red Stars (NWSL) and Chicago Hounds (Major League Rugby). For more information, visit marqueesportsnetwork.com/about.

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