Company Launches & Partnerships
Relativity Media has acquired Trigger Street Productions and has named Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey Chairman of Relativity Studios and Producer Dana Brunetti as President. Together, they will guide Relativity’s resurgence in feature films and scripted television, and expected in their new positions beginning next month. Trigger Street’s track record includes Best Picture-nominated films such as Captain Phillips and The Social Network, as well as the Emmy-nominated House Of Cards and Recount.
Hulu and Sony now have a new multi-year content deal. Several new series, including The Shield, Party of Five and Dawson’s Creek will be available on Hulu. And several new films from Sony’s archive, including Jerry Maguire, Midnight in Paris, and My Best Friend’s Wedding, will be coming to Hulu as well.
ICM Partners is expanding its Los Angeles office. While their corporate headquarters will remain at the same address, 10250 Constellation Blvd, they will move from floors 7, 8 and 9 to the top five floors of the same high rise and occupy 112,000-square-foot of new space to be renovated and designed by HOK. As part of the shift, ICM Partners will have exclusive signage atop the building. The new design will include a two-story sky lobby, outdoor terraces, high-tech functions and a central, internal staircase that connects each of its five floors.
Major League Baseball has secured a three-year deal with Le Sports, a unit of Chinese streaming services provider LeTV. MLB games will be shown live in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau beginning this month. Le Sports will broadcast 125 games per season and MLB-related programming in Mandarin over various platforms.
The Chernin Group has acquired a 51% stake in the website Barstool Sports, a comedy, sports and lifestyle media content brand started in 2004 by David Portnoy. It has since become one of the fastest growing sports websites in the past decade by delivering popular text, video and podcast content across its website, app and social platforms. Mike Kerns, President of Chernin’s Digital department and President Jesse Jacobs will join Barstool’s board of directors.
Sony Music will bring its content slate to Verizon’s mobile streaming service Go90 via a multi-year agreement to distribute multiple Sony Music-produced series on Go90. The first three series are Crashed a hidden camera comedy show, competition series Car Star and a concert series called A Live Festival. Multi-hypenate Milo Ventimiglia and digital studio StyleHaul are exclusively releasing the scripted series Relationship Status on Go90 as well.
Go-Pro and YouTube have partnered to create 360-degree video content. “We can leverage traditional content to market a VR-viewing experience. It’s not either-or; it can be both,” said GoPro CEO Nick Woodman. YouTube will also begin supporting HDR (high dynamic range) video.
Universal Music Group and iHeart Media, the nation’s largest radio station owner, are joining forces on a series of virtual reality concert experiences. Full shows by four artists will be produced as part of the iHeartRadio VR Concert Series held at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles. The debut of the VR series will overlap with iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will broadcast live on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on TBS, TNT and truTV on April 3.
MCN Fullscreen and GroupM, the media-buying arm of WPP, have joined on a venture named Playa, an influencer marketing partnership where GroupM and WPP clients will have first-look access to content produced by Fullscreen’s creators, and agencies will have access to Fullscreen’s analytics tools. Fullscreen will work with GroupM and WPP, coaching them on how to create ad campaigns featuring digital content creators.
21st Century Fox has entered into a preliminary agreement with Osterhour Design Group, a virtual and augmented reality and smartglass designer. Under the deal, 21st Century Fox would gain a minority stake in Osterhour, and become the company’s principle outside investor with the ultimate goal to merge ODG’s tech with 21st Century Fox’s entertainment content.
Film
Film and TV Producer Pam Williams and indie Producer Effie Brown have joined Lee Daniels Entertainment. Williams was previously the Principal of Pam Williams Productions and President of Laura Ziskin Productions where she produced Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Brown’s credits include Dear White People and she recently served as a producer on HBO’s Project Greenlight. She also executive produces and writes the hit series Empire.
Universal General Sales Manager Mark Gaines is retiring after 39 years at the studio. Steve Bunnel will take over as EVP and Head of Sales. He was previously Uni’s Distribution SVP and Assistant General Sales Manager. Bunnell came onboard Universal last year and worked with Gaines on matters relating to licensing of Universal theatrical releases.
Andrew England has been named the CEO of National CineMedia. He was previously the CMO of MillerCoors in Chicago. Kurt Hall has been named the Retirement & Advisor of National CineMedia. He was previously the CEO of National CineMedia.
Bo Liebman has been promoted from Coordinator to Story Editor at Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert’s EMJAG Productions.
Bill Bost has been upped from Director to the VP of Development at Skydance Media.
Sandra Condito has been named the President of Production at Straight Up Films. She was formerly the President of Acquisitions & Production at Pantelion Films.
Andrew Essex has been named CEO of Tribeca Enterprises. Best known for operating the Tribeca Film Festival, the company also operates several other branded entertainment businesses. Essex previously was the Vice Chairman and founding CEO of the creative agency Droga5.
Jasmine Daghighian has been upped from Coordinator to a Creative Executive at Imperative Entertainment.
Julie Dansker has been upped from Director to the VP of Sales & Marketing at The Orchard. Danielle DiGiacomo has been upped from Director to the VP of Acquisitions. Dan Truong has been upped form Director of Strategy & Finance to the VP of Release Strategy and Financial Planning at The Orchard.
Tara Farney has been upped from a Creative Executive position to the VP at Vinson Film.
Andrew Norman has been upped from Story Editor to the position of Creative Executive at Original Film. Karina Rahardja has been promoted from Executive Assistant to a Creative Executive position at Original Film.
TV
Time Warner has extended Jeff Bewkes’ employment agreement for another three years and he will remain as Chief Executive. “Since becoming CEO, Jeff has transformed the company to focus on video content, capitalized on the combined strength of Turner, HBO and Warner Bros., and delivered consistently strong operating and financial performance,” said Steve Bollenbach, the company’s lead independent director.
Carolyn Bernstein has been named the EVP of Head of Global Scripted Development & Production at National Geographic Channel. She was formerly the EVP at Endemol Shine Studios. Hamish Mykura has been named the EVP of Programming & Development at National Geographic Global Networks in London. He was previously the EVP and Head, International Content at National Geographic Channels International.
Jonathan Bingaman has been promoted from SVP to the EVP of Domestic Cable Sales at CBS Television Distribution. Robert Schildhouse has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Digital Licensing & Distribution at CBS Television Distribution.
Dexter Cole has been upped from VP to the SVP of Program Scheduling & Acquisitions at TV One (Silver Spring, MD).
Genevieve Croteau has been upped from Senior Director of Personnel to the VP of Human Resources at Sirens Media. Caroline Self has been upped from Executive Producer to the VP of Programming at Sirens Media.
Steven Lerner has been named the SVP of Programming & Production at Scripps Networks Interactive. He was previously the SVP of Programming at HGTV, DIY Network, and Great American Country. John Feld has taken over Lerner’s previous position and been upped from VP to the SVP of Programming & Production at HGTV, DIY Network, and Great American Country. Suzanne Underwald has expanded her title of SVP of Legal Affairs to include Business & Legal Affairs, Content Distribution & Marketing at Scripps Networks Interactive.
Jim Hoffman has been named the EVP of Program Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at A+E Networks in New York. He was previously the EVP of Sales & Marketing at NBC Entertainment.
Julie Holland has been upped from Director to the VP of Communications at Endemol Shine North America.
Jonathan Karsh is now a Principal at Shiny Objects Entertainment. He was previously the SVP of Creative Affairs at Relativity Television.
Laura Lancaster has been named the President at Alcon Television Group. She was formerly the EVP of Drama Programming at NBC Entertainment.
Maggie Leyden has been upped from Client Manager of TV to the Senior Client Manager of TV at The Orchard. Kellie McElderry has been upped from Manager of Sales & Marketing to the Director of Sales & Marketing.
Hernan Lopez has left Fox International Channels where he was CEO and will start a new venture to be announced. The decision came as Fox International Channels is consolidating its global channels under its regional hubs in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Under the new structure, the FIC banner will be discontinued and Jan Koeppen will become President of Fox Networks Group Europe. Carlos Martinez and Zubin Gandevia will hold their same positions in Latin America and Asia.
Hilary Zaitz Michael has been named the Director of Development at Groundswell Productions. She was formerly an Executive at Your Face Goes Here Entertainment.
Gretchen Palek has been upped from Head of Talent Relations to the SVP, Talent & Casting at Leftfield Entertainment. Simon Thomas has been upped from Executive Producer to the VP of Programming.
Allison Rawlings has been named the SVP of Corporate Communications at NBC Entertainment. She was formerly the Head of Public Relations at DreamWorks Animation.
Shana C. Waterman has been named the Head of Television at One Race Television. She was formerly the SVP of Event Series at FOX Broadcasting Company.
Tim Hincks is stepping down from his post as Endemol Shine Group President and will leave later this year. “The last 17 years have been an incredible and exhilarating ride,” said Hincks. Hincks first came onboard Endemol in 1999 following his position in factual and current affairs programming at the BBC. Hincks will continue to serve on the Corporate Advisory Board of the National Theatre.
Management, PR, Agencies
Erin J. Cox, Benjamin J. Horwich, Heather E. Takahashi and E. Martin Estrada have been named the Partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson where they practice as Attorneys.
David Riggs is now a Sports Agent at WME. He was previously the VP of Integrated Sales & Talent Marketing at WWE. Michael Finkle has been upped from Coordinator to Agent in the Theatre department at WME. Paul Gongaware has been promoted from Assistant to Peter Wiederlight to Music Agent. Joe Izzi and Samantha Leon have been upped from Coordinator to Talent Agent. Josh Levy and Ross Raphael have been promoted from Coordinator to Agent in the Unscripted TV department. Carolyn Moneta has been upped from Coordinator to Agent in the Commercials department. Alex Rabens has shifted from Music Agent at the Windish Agency to WME. Danny Treibatch has been upped from Coordinator to Talent Agent.
Jennifer Gabler Rawlings has been named the CEO at Omni Artists Limited. She was formerly a Talent Manager at Principato-Young Entertainment.
Chris Regan has been named the SVP of Film & Digital at DKC. He was previously the VP of Film Publicity at Ginsberg/Libby.
Allen Vainshtein is now an Associate at McKuin Frankel Whitehead. He was previously the VP of Business & Legal Affairs at 3 Ball Entertainment.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Full-service ad agency 22Squared has promoted several staffers. John Stapleton, a 15-year vet of the agency, will now serve as CCO. Previous Associate Media Director Anne DiNapoli has been named the Director, Paid Social and Digital. Genna Franconi, formerly VP and Director of Strategy is now the Team Account Director. Saya Heathco, formerly VP and Group Strategy Director is now the Director of Strategy. Meg Jokinen, formerly VP and Management Supervisor, will now serve as Account Director.
Leonora Epstein has been named the Executive Editor at the Time Inc. owned HelloGiggles, a mobile- and social-first brand geared toward millennial women. She previously served as the Deputy Editorial Director of BuzzFeed.
Jonathan Schroeder has been upped from VP of Strategy to the EVP of Advertising & Technology at Ribbow Media.
James Loftus has been named the SVP of Business Development & Operations at STX Digital (San Francisco/Burbank). He was previously a Partner at Andreessen Horowitz.
Andi Poch has been named the SVP of Sales at CBS Local Digital Media. He was previously the SVP of Integrated Digital/Sales & Strategy at Townsquare Media.
Ashley Newton has been named the President at Capitol Music Group and EVP of Creative/Special Projects at Universal Music Group. She was formerly the President at Columbia Records.