Company Launches & Partnerships
Cisco Systems is acquiring OTT video services provider 1 Mainstream. 1 Mainstream has raised about $8.75 million in funding, mostly from the U.K. satellite operator Sky and has about 70 customers, including Sky and CBS news.
The British Film Institute has launched BFI Player+, a new dedicated SVOD service, which will offer subscribers 300 films from its catalogue. The service will also feature a weekly exclusive video recommendation from Mark Kermode, an English film critic.
Digital video content producer Zazoom Media Group has merged with social media video content producer Veuer LLC but will continue to operate as Zazoom Media Group. Veuer founder Steve Charlier will has been named the company’s President. Steve Bradbury has left Zazoom as COO to pursue other opportunities.
IBM will acquire the Weather Company’s digital businesses including business-to-business, mobile, and cloud-based web properties. The Weather Channel will remain a separate entity. Reportedly, the deal is valued at more than $2 billion. The agreement is tentatively expected to close in Q1 of 2016.
Liberty Global, the largest cable company in the world, with 27 million customers across 14 countries, has extended their distribution deal with A+E Networks and is also launching two new HD channels in the UK. The deal covers A+E Networks’ UK channels on Liberty Global platforms across Europe. Lifetime and H2 will be also now be available in HD in both the UK and Ireland for the first time.
Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have extended their long-term partnership with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films for another five movies, some of which will be distributed through Lionsgate’s newly launched Premiere label. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films’ slate includes The Heist, The Extraction and The Marauders.
ESPN has closed the literary sports and culture blog, Grantland that was founded in 2011 by sportswriter Bill Simmons. Simmons had left the company six months ago. Chris Connelly was named the interim EIC. Connelly will continue at E:60 and SportsCenter. It’s estimated 40 people will be affected by the announcement. ESPN’s decision to shutter Grantland is reported to have no bearing on its other sites including FiveThirtyEight and The Undefeated.
VFX house MastersFX is launching a division dedicated to original TV content as well as consumer products called MFX Entertainment. The division’s first project will be a revival of the ’80s Halloween-themed toy line The Oh Lantern Family and an animated Halloween TV project based on the toys.
HBO Europe, Nordic and Netherlands have been consolidated under one umbrella. HBO Europe has appointed Herve Payan as their Chief Executive. Line Mykland will serve as COO and EVP of the Nordic region and Ondrej Zach will be named the COO and EVP, Central Europe.
Film
Jay Bastian has been upped from Creative Executive to SVP of Series at Warner Bros. Animation. In his new role, he will develop new TV series and content from properties within the Warner Bros. collection and oversee on-going production and current programming matters related to existing shows. Ed Adams has been promoted from Operations Chief to SVP and General Manager and will head all of the division’s non-production activities.
Jonathan Bing has been named the SVP of Corporate Communications, 21st Century Fox. He was formerly the President of Bing Communications Group.
Jonathan Bader has been upped from the SVP of Business Affairs to the Chief Administrative Officer at Amasia Entertainment. Kathryn Lyn has been upped from Development Executive to the Director of Development at Amasia Entertainment. Brad Liberti has upped from Development Assistant to a Coordinator of Production & Development at Amasia Entertainment.
Louise Chater has been named the EVP of International Strategy & Research at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Louise was previously the EVP of Strategy & Acquisitions at Clarius Entertainment.
Neil Hupfauer has been named the Interim President, Chief Operating Officer at Cinergy Entertainment Group Inc. He was formerly a Consultant at the company.
Kim Roth has been named the President of Production at Macro. She was previously the President, Production at Imagine Entertainment.
David Bates has been hired as the General Manager at Reel FX. He was formerly the Brand Manager, Director of Creative Operations & Creative Director at Bedrock Manufacturing.
David Burg has been named the SVP, Associate General Counsel at Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. He was formerly the SVP, Litigation at NBCUniversal.
Nina Cates has shifted from the Manager, Theatrical Distribution at Magnolia Pictures to the company’s Manager of Publicity. Danielle McCarthy-Boles has been upped from Manager of Publicity & Marketing to the Director of Regional Publicity at Magnolia Pictures in New York. George Nicholis has signed on as the Director of New York Publicity at Magnolia. He was formerly an Account Supervisor at PMK•BNC in New York.
Kira Thompson has been upped from Story Editor to a Creative Executive at Genre Films.
Robert Walak has been named the Co-Managing Director at Universal Pictures International Productions in London. He was formerly the President, Managing Director, Europe, Production, Acquisitions & Television at The Weinstein Company.
David Wardle has been named the VP of Business & Legal Affairs at Saban Films. He was formerly an Associate at Loeb & Loeb.
TV
Gina Balian has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Limited Series at FX Networks. Nicole Clemens has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Series Development at FX Networks. Jonathan Frank has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Current Series at FX Networks.
Laurens Drillich has been named the President at Endemol Shine Latino. She was previously the CEO at Endemol Shine Netherlands.
Sara Helman has been named the VP of Development & Production at TLC in New York. She was previously the VP of Development & Production at Destination America.
Jinny Howe has been upped from SVP to the EVP and Head of Television at John Wells Productions.
Dylan Jones has been upped from SVP, Corporate Communications to the EVP and Chief Communications Officer at Scripps Networks Interactive. Eleni Stratigeas has been upped from VP to SVP of Business & Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Scripps Networks Interactive. Simone Nardi has been named the Managing Director of Finance & Operations, International at Scripps Networks Interactive in New York. He was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of International at Scripps Networks Interactive.
Julie Merson has been upped from Development Executive to the VP of Development at 44 Blue Productions. Willis Robertson has been named the Director of Development at 44 Blue Productions. She was previously a Manager of Development at Bunim/Murray Productions. Alison Dammann has been named the Director of Development at 44 Blue Productions. She was previously a Manager, Development at Relativity Television.
Gabrielle Neimand has been named the Head, Development & Production at Take Fountain Productions. She was previously the VP of Narrative Films at Participant Media.
Rachel Polan has been upped from Manager to the Director of Television at Lionsgate.
Leigh London Redman has been upped from VP to the SVP of Scripted Programming at Warner Horizon Television. Stephanie Groves has been named the VP of Scripted Programming at Warner Horizon Television. She was previously the SVP of Current Programming at Warner Bros. Television.
Management, PR, Agencies
Mike Esola has left WME where he was a Literary Agent. He is currently pursuing other opportunities.
Cara Lewis has left CAA where she was a Music Agent. She joined CAA several years ago after 23 years with WMA/WME. Her current client list includes Eminem, Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora among others.
David Anderson has signed on as an Executive of Digital Media at UTA. He was formerly the SVP at MediaLink. Seth Lawrence has signed on as an Agent, Alternative TV at UTA. He was formerly the SVP of Alternative TV at Rebel Entertainment Partners.
Rob Saunders has been upped from Assistant to Talent Manager at Luber Roklin Entertainment. Ryan Lewis Tunick has signed on as a Talent Manager at Luber Roklin Entertainment. He was formerly an Assistant at WME.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Yahoo has hired Bob Lord as their Chief Information Security Officer to lead the Yahoo security team in the protection of the company’s more than one billion global users. Previously, Lord served CISO-in-Residence at the cybersecurity firm Rapid 7.
The media agency Vizeum, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, has named Shoshana Winter as its new Chief Strategy Officer and will drive collaboration across multi-agency teams. Winter previously served as Executive Planning Director, Digital Integration at mcgarrybowen, Vizeum’s sister agency.
Digital marketing company Adaptly has hired Kelley Gott as VP and Head of Strategic Accounts to develop brand and agency relationships. Previously, Gott served as Chief Revenue Officer of social advertising company BLiNQ Media.
Univision Digital has named Carlos Chirinos to the position of Senior Political Editor. Previously, Chirinos spent 15 years at BBC World Service, most recently as Deputy Bureau Editor for BBC Mundo, BBC’s Spanish-language website.
Jason Klarman has been hired as the CMO at online video company Fullscreen. In the newly-created position, he will head marketing strategy for the brand, the company’s integrated marketing business and originals on Fullscreen’s entertainment service. Klarman most recently served president of consulting firm Hashtag Media Ideas.
John W. Eck has been named the Chief Local Media Officer at Univision Communications, Inc. in New York. He was formerly the EVP of Technology, Operations & Engineering at Univision Communications, Inc.
Marcy George has been named the VP of Global Consumer Products at Saban Brands. She was previously the Founder, CEO at David & Goliath Licensing. Scott Rosenbaum has been named the SVP of Business & Legal Affairs. He was formerly the Expert Counsel of Business & Legal Affairs at Mattel Inc. Stan Wan has been hired as a Creative Director of the Lifestyle Group at Saban Brands in Sydney. He was formerly the Director, Co-Owner at North Hill. Jennifer Wexler has been promoted from Consultant in the Lifestyle Group to the SVP of Marketing at Saban Brands. Tori Cook has been named the SVP of Global Retail Business at Saban Brands. She was previously the VP of Retail Business Development at Sanrio, Inc.
Jeff Minsky has been named the SVP of Digital Innovation & Integrated Media at NYC & Company in New York. He was formerly the Director of Emerging Media Investment at Omnicom Media Group in New York.
Brittany Turner has been upped from Director of Social Media to the VP of Digital Video at Adaptive Studios.
David MacMahon Mount has been named the VP of Business Development at Warner/Chappell Production Music in New York. He was formerly a Key Account Director of Cable Productions at APM Music.