Deborah Blackwell was an executive who achieved success with SoapNet, the cable network she ran from 2001 to 2007.

Born in Washington, D.C., Blackwell grew up in Maryland and received a B.A. in English literature from Brown University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

When she started at SoapNet, the network's programming consisted primarily to reruns of daytime dramas such as All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hopsital. During her tenure as general manager, she increased the network's distribution; acquired rights to primetime series such as One Tree Hill, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dallas; and introduced original programming, including the scripted show General Hospital: Night Shift and the reality show The Fashionista Diaries. SoapNet closed its operations in late 2013.

Blackwell died January 31, 2014, in Staunton, Virginia. She was 63.