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  CJ Olivares. Shop-eat-surf file photo.

 

Fuel TV said yesterday that General Manager CJ Olivares has resigned.

 

CJ was the leader and visionary behind Fuel TV and a passionate action sports supporter.

 

The release does not specify what CJ’s new job is, but says he is pursuing his passion for action sports.

 

Fuel TV still covers action sports, but recently broadened its mission in new directions.

 

“As the network continues to evolve, I realize that my passion remains the action sports that were FUEL TV’s core and I now have the opportunity to explore the emerging possibilities in the expanding action-sports entertainment landscape,” CJ said in the press release.

 

I will try to reach CJ to find out more about his new position.

 

Fuel TV has not yet named a replacement, and CJ will serve as a consultant during the transition.

 

Here is the complete release.

 

OLIVARES STEPS DOWN AS FUEL TV GENERAL MANAGER

 

CJ Olivares, Executive Vice President and General Manager of FUEL TV, is leaving the network he helped launch eight years ago to pursue opportunities more closely related to the action sports genre to which he remains passionate. He stays on as a consultant to provide transitional support, with a focus on FUEL TV’s action sports programming and associated sponsor relationships.

 

A 20-year television veteran, Olivares is credited with creating the original vision, mission and programming mix that drove FUEL TV to its current position as the network with the highest concentration of young males in all of cable television.

 

“CJ has worked tirelessly to make FUEL TV live up to its original mission of providing unique, male-oriented sports and entertainment programming with a distinctive voice,” said FOX Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill. “We thank him for his creativity and dedication, and appreciate his commitment to the action sports world in which he has unparalleled expertise. He will be missed.”

 

Launched in July 2003 as an “action sports and lifestyle” cable network, FUEL TV’s demographic target has expanded over the last several months and as a result so has its programming philosophy. While FUEL TV continues to include sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and motocross in its male-focused programming mix, it has recently completed multiple development, production and program licensing deals that broadened its programming base.

 

“It has been my honor and privilege to lead a team of dedicated and talented professionals at FUEL TV these last eight years,” offered Olivares. “As the network continues to evolve, I realize that my passion remains the action sports that were FUEL TV’s core and I now have the opportunity to explore the emerging possibilities in the expanding action-sports entertainment landscape.”

 

Before joining FUEL TV, Olivares served as CEO of Broadband Interactive Group (BIG), a multi-media company, and also advised Extreme Group Ltd on their expansion into the action sports genre. He became director of operations for FSN predecessor Prime Sports’ Event Group in 1996, later becoming director of program development and acquisitions for FSN in 1997.

 

Olivares became editor of Triathlete Magazine in 1984, while also photographing sports, fashion and personalities for Nike, Oakley, Glamour, Sports Illustrated and CNN. He became editorial director of Triathlete in 1988 and then director of development for Inclyne Sports, a pioneer in packaging and producing sponsor-driven television events.