Company Launches & Partnerships
According to reports several companies are looking to acquire MCN Defy Media with Viacom as the likely buyer. Reportedly the asking price is in the $500 million range. Defy Media is a multi-platform media business that includes owned and operated sites for teens, young adults – both female and male, video properties and apps.
Rovi and Intellectual Ventures will combine assets into one comprehensive licensing program to focus on over-the-top offerings. Under the deal, Rovi will serve as the exclusive partner for IV, licensing the companies’ combined patent portfolio exclusively to OTT customers.
PYPO, the female oriented digital comedy platform, has partnered with New York Magazine. Under the deal, NY Mag’s The Cut section will debut a PYPO original comedy video each Sunday.
MCN streaming service fuboTV has partnered with 15 new linear networks, all of which are now available on the subscription service. These include Univision, Pivot, El Rey and REVOLT among others.
Kimberly Fox has signed on to MadRiver Pictures as a Partner and will launch an International Sales Arm. The new division will oversee sales and distribution on all MadRiver films as well as films from Vendian Entertainment, that made a strategic investment in MadRiver. Fox will continue to run Megan Ellison’s Annapurna International label and rep all of Annapurna’s titles internationally.
IBM has acquired The Weather Company’s Digital Businesses including TWC’s mobile, cloud-based, web, and B2B properties. The company’s cable channel is not part of the acquisition, though the channel will license weather forecast data and analytics from IBM. The impending acquisition was initially announced in October 2015. As part of IBM’s acquisition, TWC CEO David Kenny will now serve as head of IBM’s Watson platform business. Michael Rhodin, who launched the platform business, will serve as Head of Watson Business Development.
Fandango has acquired M-GO, a streaming service previously owned by Dreamworks Animation and Technicolor. The service features movies and TV shows from a variety of networks and studios.
Film
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has named Julie Menin as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Menin, is a lawyer, activist and consumer advocate and campaigned for Manhattan Borough President in the last election. She served previously as Commissioner of Consumer Affairs.
Peter Schlessel is leaving his post as CEO of Focus Features come April. Schlessel will oversee the release of the division’s upcoming releases of Race, London Has Fallen and The Young Messiah before his departure. Current Focus COO Adrian Alperovich, Marketing President Christine Birch and President of Acquisitions Lia Buman will also leave Focus Features in April. Peter Kujawaski, Managing Director of Universal Pictures International Productions, will become the chairman of a reorganized banner that will combine UPIP and Focus. Robert Walak will be upped from UPIP Co-Managing Director to President. Abhijay Prakash will shift from EVP of Film Strategy at Universal Pictures to COO of Focus Features.
Shyama Friedenson has been named the EVP International Marketing at STX Entertainment. In her new post she will be the liaison between STX and its distribution partners overseas and develop the international marketing strategy for STX and supervise international marketing initiatives. She most recently was the Head of International Marketing at StudioCanal.
Sophie Cassidy has been upped from VP to SVP of Production & Acquisitions at Open Road Films.
Joshua Deitell has been upped from Manager of Sales & Acquisitions to the VP of International Sales & Acquisitions at The Solution Entertainment Group.
Jeff Maynard has been named the Head of Post Production at Moon River Studios (Rincon, GA). He was previously a Consultant at Relativity Media.
Lauren Russell has been upped from Creative Executive to the VP of Production & Development at StarStream.
Jeff Small has been upped from Chief Operating Officer to co-CEO at Amblin Partners in addition to his title as President. Amblin Partners also extended CEO Michael Wright’s contract in a multi-year deal.
Bradley Wald has been named the CFO and SVP of Business Operations at LAIKA in Portland. He was previously the Chief Commercial Officer at NBCUniversal International TV Production in London.
TV
Sumner Redstone has stepped down from his post as Executive Chairman at CBS and Viacom and will become Chairman Emeritus at both corporations. It’s been confirmed that Les Moonves, currently CEO at CBS, will take over as Executive Chairman. Philippe Dauman, currently CEO of Viacom, has been named Executive Chairman at Viacom. Shari Redstone voted “no” on that decision at Viacom and will remain Non-Executive Vice Chair. Dauman is a member of the seven-person trust which includes Shari and will control Sumner Redstone’s 80% stakes in Viacom and CBS after his passing.
Tom Christie has been upped from President, Distribution, Business Development and Network Operations to Chief Operating Officer at Showtime Networks Inc. With over 25 years of service at the company, Christie will continue to have oversight of the planning and execution of future strategies and new business ventures.
Joe Earley has signed on to be President of The Jackal Group, Gail Berman’s joint production venture with Fox TV Group. The move comes after he left Fox after 21 years as an executive. In his new post he will oversee all areas of The Jackal Group’s television, film, theater and digital divisions.
Tony Biancosino has been named the SVP of Development at Original Media in New York. He was previously an Executive Producer at Fatstache.
Assaf Blecher has been named the VP of Development & Content at Keshet Broadcasting (Tel Aviv). He was previously the Managing Director at Keshet DCP. Howard Burch has been named the Head of Drama at Keshet UK (London). He was previously the Head of Television at Vertigo Films.
Lee Ann Chmielewski-Larsen has been named the EVP of Production at Viacom Kids and Family Group in New York. She was formerly the SVP of Production at Nickelodeon Group.
Noah Danoff has been named the VP of Development at non-scripted TV production company Magilla Entertainment in New York. He was previously a Freelance Development Producer. Jason Fox has been upped from GM to the President at Magilla Ent. Sabine Kertscher has been upped from Director of Post-Production to the VP of Post-Production. Sean Lee has been upped from VP of Current Series to the SVP of Current Series & Development at Magilla Ent. Courtney Maglione has been upped from Casting Producer to the VP of Talent at Magilla Entertainment in New York. Chris Potocki has been named the Concept Commander at Magilla Entertainment in New York. He was previously a Freelance Producer. Dominick Pupa has been upped from Showrunner to the VP of Current Production at Magilla Ent. Josh Abrahamson has been upped from Development Producer to the VP of Development.
Chris Dickie has been upped from Manager of Development to the Director of Development at Endemol Shine Studios. Alex Soler has been upped from Coordinator to the Manager of Development at Endemol Shine Studios. Sahar Vahedi has shifted from Executive Assistant to Russ Buchholz to a Coordinator of Development at Endemol Shine Studios.
Kamico Drakes has been upped from Director of Development to the VP of Development at Collins Avenue. Michael Hammond has been upped from SVP of Production to the Chief Operating Officer at Collins Avenue. Sandi Johnson has been upped from VP to the SVP at Current Programming. Lindsay Schwartz has been upped from VP to the SVP of Development & Business Affairs. Ben Ziertan has been named the Development Producer. He was previously a Development Producer at Discovery Studios.
Michael Ellenberg has signed a Production deal with HBO. He was previously the EVP of Programming at HBO. Casey Bloys has been upped from EVP of Programming to the President of Series at Late-Night & Specials at HBO.
Jo Honig has been named the Principal at Omelette Bar Productions in New York. She was formerly the EVP of Development at True Entertainment in New York.
Jimmy Jellinek has been named the VP of Content Marketing & Digital Innovation at TBS & TNT. He was previously the President of Entertainment and Chief Content Officer at Playboy Enterprises and Editorial Director at Playboy.
Nick Johnson has been named the SVP of Digital Ad Sales Strategy at Turner Ad Sales in New York. He was previously the SVP of Digital Media Sales at NBCUniversal Sports in New York.
Eddy Moretti and Spike Jonze are now Co-Presidents of Viceland, the new cable network from the digital news and documentary giant Vice Media. Jonze is also the Creative Director of Vice Media. Moretti is also CCO at Vice Media. Guy Slattery has been named the GM at Viceland. He was previously the EVP of Marketing at A&E, History, and H2 in New York.
Stephen Joy has been named the Director of UK & SVOD Sales at Content Television in London. He was previously the Director of TV & Digital at Koch Media UK.
Carla Lewis-Long has been upped from VP to the SVP of Distribution & Affiliate Relations at Pivot in New York. Jerry Blake has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Business & Legal Affairs at Pivot.
Nicholas Ferguson has left her post as Chairman of Sky in London and will pursue other opportunities beginning in April 2016. James Murdoch has been named Chairman of Sky, to take effect in April. He is also the CEO of 21st Century Fox in New York.
Caroline Perez has been named the VP of Development & Production at Science Channel in New York. She was formerly the VP of Production & Development at Destination America.
Neil Regan has been named the VP of Programming at Travel Channel (New York/Knoxville) He was previously the SVP of Current Programming & Development at Zodiak New York.
Hazel Steward has been named the SVP of East Coast Development at True Entertainment in New York. She was formerly the SVP of Media & Channel Operations at Starclub.
Tiffany Trigg has been named the SVP of Unscripted Development & Current Programming at DiGa in New York. She was formerly the Showrunner and Director of the series, Find My First Love.
Bruce Tuchman will leave his post as President at AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global in New York in April and will pursue other opportunities.
Kevin Vargas has been upped from SVP and Head of Production to the COO at Left/Right Productions in New York. Anneka Jones has been upped from SVP of Development to the EVP of Development & Current Production at Left/Right Productions in New York.
Anna Wasylenki has been named the VP of Development at General Purpose Entertainment in Toronto. She was formerly an Independent Writer and Creative Producer.
Robert Wimbish has been named the Director of Programming at HGTV & DIY Network in Knoxville. He was previously the Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Scripps Networks Interactive. Maggie Zeltner has been named the Director of Programming at HGTV & DIY Network in New York. She was formerly a Producer on the series, America’s Next Top Model.
Management, PR, Agencies
Rick Faigin has been upped to EVP of Outreach, Brand Marketing at PMK*BNC. Krista Guilfoyle has been upped to SVP of Brand Marketing.
Agents Kristen Billings, Molly Bruns, Brian Goldberg, Trevor Kossack, and Louiza Vick have been named Partners at Worldwide Production Agency. The agency provides specialized representation to producers, cinematographers, designers, and editors in all areas of the entertainment and advertising industries.
Amanda Burnett and Lily Safran have been upped from Coordinators to TV Lit Agents at UTA.
Kevin Cotter has been named the Director of Literary Affairs at Anonymous Content in New York. He was previously the Creative Executive of Book Scout at Floren Shieh Productions.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier have been named the Co-Executive Chairman of Boat Rocker Media and Co-President at Boat Rocker Studios in Toronto. Boat Rocker Media, an expansion and rebranding of Temple Street Productions, includes a division specializing in original digital content, games, apps, virtual reality, and YouTube video. They were both previously the Co-Presidents at Temple Street Productions. John Young has been named the CEO at Boat Rocker Media in Toronto. He was previously the Managing Director at Temple Street Productions.
Zarin Jaffe has been named the Counsel to Business & Legal Affairs at Skydance Media. He was previously an Associate of Legal Affairs at Skydance Television.
Nancy Silverstone has been named the Head of Acquisitions & Content Strategy at 108 Media Corpin Toronto. She was formerly the VP, Program Acquisitions at Starz Network in Colorado.
Jeni Mulein has been named the VP of Scripted Development at Fullscreen, the multi-channel media company owned by AT&T and The Chernin Group. Previously, Mulein served as VP of Event Series at Fox Broadcasting.