Company Launches & Partnerships
Sky Atlantic will be the exclusive home to Showtime programming in major European markets under Sky’s new long-term licensing agreement with CBS Corp. The deal encompasses all countries where Sky is present, including the UK and Germany among others, with a total of 21 million subscribers. This is the biggest international deal to date for Showtime and the first time its content portfolio has been licensed to a single media company across numerous European territories. Customers will also have on-demand access to the Showtime catalogue via Sky Go. Alongside scripted content, Sky gains an exclusive option to take all new Showtime distributed unscripted shows.
Beijing-based Perfect World Pictures and Universal Pictures are closing in on a deal for a $500 million movie slate financing deal to run five years and cover 25% of the budget of each film. Universal requested a distribution fee of 12.5% and excluded Fast And Furious, Jurassic and Illumination Minions franchises. On films Universal shares with Legendary, Perfect World would conceivably take 25% of Universal’s limited stake, on films like the Bourne Identity franchise and the Tom Cruise-starrer The Mummy. The funding will include $250 million equity with the rest in debt.
As reported in Film & TV Deals, Fred Bernstein has started a new Los Angeles-based production company, named Astute Films. Bernstein’s experience includes stints as President of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Companies, SVP of the MCA Motion Picture Group (the former parent of Universal Pictures) and President of Worldwide Production at Columbia Pictures. The production company launches with $50 million in private equity funding. The company has signed on Dominique Telson as VP of Development and Production. Telson was previously the VP of Original Programming for Showtime.
Hernan Lopez has founded Wondery, a new podcast network. He was previously at Fox for 20 years, most recently as the CEO at Fox International Channels. Wondery will be a hub for curating existing podcasts with new titles. The ‘audio on-demand network’ will focus on mobile users. Wondery has joined forces with San Francisco-based ART19 tech firm to help with distribution infrastructure and dynamic ad insertion across multiple podcasts.
Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman have founded independent production company The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC). Eli Holzman will have the title of CEO and Saidman, the title of President. Holzman was previously the President at All3Media America while Saidman as previously the EVP of Development & Current Programming at All3Media America. Rachel Dax has been named the EVP of Head of Production. She was formerly the SVP of Production at Endemol Shine USA. Steve Erdman is now a Coordinator of Development. He was previously the Coordinator of Development at All3Media America. Matt Zien has been named the Director of Development. He was previously the Manager of Development at All3Media America. Andy Olymbiou has been named the VP of Head of Finance. He was previously the Director of Finance at 495 Productions.
SpectreVision, the genre production company founded by Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller, has signed a deal with Ubisoft to develop and produce original and interactive virtual reality content. The SpectreVision team will work with Ubisoft’s FunHouse Studio in Montreal.
CAA has acquired London-based sports marketing agency Brandrapport. Brandrapport specializes in sports corporate consulting and “experiential” marketing. Its client list includes Nestle, Prudential, and Samsung. Andy Kenny, who was the Managing Director, will now be the Head of CAA Sports Consulting. CAA will now rep upwards of 130 NFL athletes. CAA Sports Consulting, founded in October 2011, has negotiated more than $2 billion in sponsorship rights deals.
Russia’s Gazprom-Media and China’s Shanghai Media Group have signed a deal that covers collaboration on the production and distribution of content across film, TV and digital. Gazprom-Media, under Russian energy giant Gazprom, includes the media assets NTV and TNT TV channels as well as top film company Central Partnership. The state-owned Shanghai Media Group controls over twelve radio stations, TV channels and pay TV networks and publications. It also has a strategic association with Disney that comprises the co-production of films and development of TV shows.
FreemantleMedia has acquired a 51 percent stake in Israel’s Abot Hameiri. Founded by Eitan Abot and Guy Hameiri in 2006, the production company specializes in entertainment formats, scripted reality and drama. Their credits include local versions of The X Factor, Survivor and Amazing Race. Abot Hameiri also develops and produces its own formats, including Power Couple.
Infront Sports & Media, under parent company Dalian Wanda Group in China, has bought 51% of Omnigon, a consulting firm that helps sports, media and entertainment providers to develop mobile apps and websites. Omnigon’s client list includes World Rugby, PGA Tour, NASCAR, AS Roma, Fox, Fox Sports, Miami Heat and WWE. The New York-based firm will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity, keeping its brand name.
James Huntsman and Todd Slater have founded Blue Fox Entertainment, a sales representation and completion funding company to help indie filmmakers place their films of different genres with buyers for theatrical and digital release. They’ve already have the Sigourney Weaver narrated documentary, All You Need Is Love and Havenhurst from the producers of Saw.
Film
Randy Lake has been upped from EVP to the President, Studio Operations & Imageworks at Sony Pictures and he will oversee all operations, strategy and planning for Sony Pictures Imageworks and the Post Production Services, Production Services, Global Mastering and Servicing, and Asset Management divisions.
Stephen Emery has been named the EVP of Acquisitions & Development at The Solution Entertainment Group. He was previously the EVP of Development & Production at Circle of Confusion.
Wendy Lidell has been named the SVP of Theatrical Distribution & Acquisitions at Kino Lorber. She was formerly the President at International Film Circuit, Inc. in New York. Elizabeth Sheldon has been named the COO at BOND/360. She was formerly the SVP at Kino Lorber.
Jack Sheehan has been upped from Coordinator to the Manager of International Sales at Lotus Entertainment. Previous to Lotus he worked at QED International, WME and Northwestern Mutual.
Adam Stone has been named the President of Entertainment at Phenomenon. He was previously the President of Production at Vertigo Entertainment.
TV
Steven Moffat is leaving his post as the Showrunner, Head Writer and EP of the hit series, Doctor Who, after the upcoming Season 10. In his stead, Broadchurch EP Chris Chibnall will be taking over. Moffat has been at the helm of the series since Season 5 in 2010.
Beau Ferrari has been shifted from EVP of Operations to the EVP of Corporate Strategy & Development at Univision Communications Inc. Jorge “Pepo” Ferradas has been named the President, Music Division of Univision Communications Inc. He was previously the SVP of Touring at Live Nation in New York.
Jason Zajac has been named the EVP of Strategy & Business Insights at NBCUniversal. He was previously the Partner, Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco.
Charlie Corwin and Cris Abrego have been named the Co-Chairmen of Endemol Shine Americas in addition to their titles as Co-Chairmen, Co-CEOs at Endemol Shine North America.
Nick Borenstein has been named the Director of Scripted Programming at First Look Media. He was previously the VP of TV Development at Hudson Media in New York.
Georgia Brown has been named the EVP of Global Scripted & Factual Content at FremantleMedia in London. He was previously the SVP of Scripted at FremantleMedia International.
Hector Campos has been named the VP of Programming at UP. He was previously the VP of Programming & Acquisitions at CMT.
Mioshi Hill has been named the VP of Non-Fiction Programming at Lifetime. Mioshi was formerly the SVP of Development & Creative Affairs at Hudson Media.
Michael Katz is now a Senior Development Consultant at CMJ Productions II Inc. in Montreal. He was previously the VP of Programming, Production and Marketing for A+E Networks International.
Anna Mallett has been named the COO at BBC Studios. She was formerly the Director, Project Lead at BBC Production. Charlotte Moore is now the Controller at TV Channels & iPlayer at BBC. She was formerly the Controller at BBC One.
Alberto Ciurana is now pursuing other opportunities. He was previously the President of Programming & Content at Univision Communications Inc.
Josie Crimi has been named the EVP of Development & Production at Scott Brothers Entertainment. She was formerly the VP of Development & Production at General Purpose Entertainment.
Ana De Moraes has been named the Head of New Formats at TwoFour in London. She was formerly the Creative Director of Development Central at BBC.
Peter Fincham is now pursuing other opportunities. He was previously the Director, Television at ITV in London. Kevin Lygo has been named the Director of Television at ITV in his stead. He was previously the Managing Director at ITV Studios. David McGraynor has been named the Chief Finance & Operating Officer at ITV Studios. He was previously the Finance Director at ITV Studios. Julian Bellamy has been named the Managing Director at ITV Studios. She was previously the Managing Director at ITV Studios UK.
Kim Shillinglaw is now pursuing other opportunities. She was formerly the Controller at BBC Two and BBC Four.
Matt Stein has been named the SVP of Marketing at Animal Planet and Science Channel (as of February 1st, 2016). He was previously the SVP of Marketing, Promotion & Creative Services at BBC America.
Emily Morgan has been named the Executive Producer of National Productions at Zone3. She was formerly the Senior Director of Original Lifestyle Content at Shaw Media in Toronto.
Marissa Ronca has been upped from SVP of Development & Original Programming to the EVP of Head of Programming at truTV. Puja Vohra has been named the EVP, Marketing & Digital at truTV. Puja was previously the SVP of Marketing & Digital at truTV.
Management, PR, Agencies
Crystal Johns has been named a Broadcast News Agent at Bienstock, the news and broadcast division of UTA. Johns will represent clients working in network and cable news as well as in top local markets. She was formerly at CBS News, where she was the Director of Talent Development and Diversity and responsible for recruiting talent for the Division and for the oversight of employee development and mentoring programs.
Crystal Johns is now a Broadcast News Agent at Bienstock/UTA. She was formerly the Director of Talent Development and Diversity at CBS News.
Miles Lozano is now an Agent in Alternative Programming & Digital Media at Abrams Artists. She was formerly the Agent Trainee at Abrams Artists.
Katherine Rowe is now the Principal at Rowe PR. She was formerly the SVP, Head, New York Office at Shelter PR.
Jennifer Sims has been named the Senior Account Executive at BWR Public Relations. She was formerly the Account Executive at ID Public Relations.
Tamer Ahsan has signed on to Pakula/King & Associates as a Talent Agent. He was previously at APA where he began his career in the mailroom in 2012 and quickly moved up the ranks to a talent coordinator position. His client list includes veterans Barbara Hershey, Mitch Pileggi and Patrick Duffy.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Suzanne Kolb is now the EVP and General Manager, Discovery Digital Networks and will oversee the company’s portfolio of 70+ web-native brands and series, original digital development, Discovery VR and social partnerships. Kolb will split her time between Discovery’s Los Angeles and San Francisco offices. She was formerly the President of E! Entertainment, and responsible for Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Chelsea Lately, Botched and Total Divas.
Alex Roetter, the SVP of Engineering, Skip Schipper, the VP of HR, Katie Stanton, the Head of Media and Kevin Weil, the Head of Product are all leaving their posts at Twitter, after confirmation by CEO Jack Dorsey. will be leaving his post as CEO of Twitter. Jason Toff, a Product Executive at Vine is also leaving. Following the shake-up, Twitter COO Adam Bain will also handle the revenue-related product team, the Media team, and HR, while CTO Adam Messinger will be taking on engineering and consumer product, design and research, user services, and Fabric under a single group.
Geoff Elsner has been upped from Director to the Executive Director of Business Development at Variety Insight. Carolyn Horwitz has been named the Managing Editor at Variety. She was formerly the Executive Editor at Entrepreneur magazine.
Tamoor Shafi has been named the Chief Digital Officer at Relativity Media. He was previously the Founder, CEO at Omnia Media. Court Coursey has been named the Chief Investment & Strategy Officer at Relativity Media LLC and Managing Partner, TomorrowVentures. Court was formerly the Managing Partner at TomorrowVentures. Kenneth Halsband has been named the COO of Relativity Media in addition to his title as President, Physical and Post-Production at Relativity Studios.
Matt Sawin has been upped from VP of Commercial Development to the SVP of Marketing & Commercial Development at Caroline.