Deborah Blackwell, the former general manager of SOAPnet, died Friday in Virginia after battling Pick's disease for seven years, Deadline.com reported. She was 63.Blackwell ran SOAPnet from 2001 to 2007, building the network for Disney's ABC Cable Networks group. Under her leadership the channel's distribution reportedly grew to more than 67 million homes, with SOAPnet gaining same-day rights to NBC and CBS programming, along with soaps from owner ABC.
The channel also acquired primetime shows under Blackwell's leadership, including ONE TREE HILL and THE O.C. It added original programming as well, launching the scripted series GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT and the reality show THE FASHIONISTA DIARIES