Company Launches & Partnerships
Amazon has agreed to offer its Amazon Prime customers the opportunity to buy Seeso, NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises’ $3.99 a month ad-free comedy service. NBCU SVP Ben McLean says Seeso is “the first standalone comedy offering” with “the best premium content – Original Series, stand-up specials and library video—across every screen.” Seeso will be made available in the spring.
Fullscreen will launch an ad-free subscription video on demand service for teens and young adults similar to Netflix that will cost $4.99 per month on April 26. As part of the content it will distribute a Bret Easton Ellis-directed thriller series called The Deleted and a daily sketch show, Party In The Back. AT&T will be a launch sponsor and will co-produce programming that will run on Fullscreen as well as a programming block on the AT&T Audience Network, which goes to its DirecTV and U-verse subscribers.
USA Today owner Gannett has publicly offered to acquire the owner of the LA Times, Tribune Publishing in a deal valued at $815 million. Gannett’s $12.25 a share cash offer represents an estimated 63% premium over Tribune’s $7.52 closing price on April 22. Gannett hired Methuselah Advisors to offer financial counsel, with legal advice from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. If approved, Gannett will seek to expand its USA Today Network and encourage collaboration between all of the the company’s media properties, giving them a common branding platform.
Univision has acquired the Disney-owned network’s stake in Fusion and has replaced ABC in distributing the network, and handling ad sales. As part of the deal Univision will create the Fusion Media Group, as a “multi-platform destination for the new, rising American mainstream.” The group will also include Univision’s interests in El Rey, The Root, The Onion, A.V. Club, Clickhole, Starwipe, Flama, Univision Digital and Univision Music.
Viacom has announced a deal with Dish Network and stopped any programming black-out. The announcement also stated that “select Viacom live and Video-On-Demand content” including Comedy Central, BET, Spike, MTV, and Nick Jr. will run on the satellite company’s Sling TV streamed service. Viacom chief Philippe Dauman spoke of the renewal, saying it, “will enable Viacom to drive growth and deliver better, more engaging viewer experiences for years to come.”
Google unveiled a new Computer Science Education in Media program run by Julie Ann Crommett at Tribeca. They will partner with The Black List to offer financial grants in support of developing scripts about the changing the image of computer science and computer scientists in pop culture. Starting this fall, the Black List will grant up to $15K to three screenwriters, one feature and two episodic pilots. Writers will retain all rights to the work. Writers with scripts on The Black List site are also eligible.
Film
Jean-Julien Baronnet is now pursuing other opportunities. She was previously the CEO at Ubisoft Motion Pictures.
Peter Kang has been named the Co-President of Lionsgate alongside Bobby Cohen. He was previously the EVP of Production at Paramount Pictures. Prior to that, he was the EVP at Fox, where he oversaw the relaunch of The Planet of the Apes franchise.
David Van Dyke has been upped from VP to the President at Shade VFX. Lisa Maher has been upped from Executive Producer to the VP of Production at Shade VFX. John Riddle has shifted from Head to the VP of Technology at Shade VFX.
Alexandra Cocean has been named the SVP of International Sales at Voltage Pictures. She was previously the VP of International Sales at Lightning Entertainment.
Michael Joe has been named the COO of Motion Picture Group at STX Entertainment. He was formerly the Managing Director at Seer Capital in New York.
Tony Shaw has been named the VP at Escape Artists. He was formerly the Director of Development at Captivate Entertainment.
TV
Kurt Davis has been named CBS’ EVP of Affiliate Relations. He was previously the VP of News Services. He replaces Elizabeth Tumulty, who had led the group since December 2013. In his new role, he’ll oversee day-to-day operations for the Network affiliate relations department.
Sarah Broderick has been hired as the Chief Revenue Officer for Vice Media and will oversee the global finance division. She was previously the Chief Accounting Officer/Global Controller at WME | IMG, where she oversaw the global controllership organization and financial integration of the IMG and WME businesses.
Betsy Bergman has been named the SVP of Marketing & Brand Strategy at NBCUniversal TV Distribution in New York. She was previously the VP of Marketing at Sony Pictures Television.
Derek Chang has been upped from Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Operations to the Head, International Lifestyle Channels at Scripps Networks Interactive (London, as of July 2016).
Rob Day has been upped from EVP of Production to the EVP and Head of Unscripted Production at Endemol Shine USA.
Darren Galatt has been upped from VP of Advertising Sales to the President of Advertising Sales, Global Syndication at Entertainment Studios. Jesse Kerns has been named the SVP of Unscripted Production at Endemol Shine USA. He was formerly the SVP of Production at Relativity Television. Kirk Anderson has been upped from Executive Director of Production to the VP of Unscripted Production at Endemol Shine USA.
Annie Gerhart has been named the VP of Unscripted Programming at The Company. She was previously the Director of Program Development at Sony Pictures Television.
Andy Kemp has been named the Regional VP of Sales at Samba TV in San Francisco. He was formerly the VP of Agency Partnerships at AddThis. Serena Satyasai has been named the VP of Marketing at Samba TV. She was previously the Senior Director of Marketing at Zscaler.
Dan Matthias has been upped from Coordinator of Development to the Manager of Development at Go Go Luckey Entertainment. Bill Castonzo has been upped from VP to the SVP of Development. Frank Prather has shifted from VP of Talent Development & Casting to the VP of Development. Breonna Carrera has been upped from Manager of Development to the Director of Development at Go Go Luckey Entertainment.
Alex Soler has been named the Director of Development at Sonar Entertainment. He was formerly the Manager of Development at Endemol Shine Studios.
Management, PR, Agencies
Jennifer Hass has been upped from Coordinator to Concert Agent at APA.
Leif Reinstein has been named Partner of Entertainment & Media Group at Reed Smith LLP. He was formerly a Partner of Entertainment Group at Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman LLP.
Tyler Reynolds has been upped from Coordinator of TV Literary to TV Agent at Equitable Stewardship for Artists.
Liz Rosier will become a Talent Manager at Rosier Artist Management (as of May 2016). She was previously a Talent Agent at Hartig Hilepo Agency in New York.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Rebecca Hershinger has been named the CFO at Genius Brands International. She was previously the Principal, CFO Advisory Services, Inc.
Tim Knapp has been named the VP of Client Engagement at PRO-TEK Vaults. He was formerly the President at Reflex Technologies, LLC.
Amy Kuessner has been named the VP of Content Acquisition at Pluto TV. She was previously the Head of Content Acquisition at BY Experience in New York.
Ethan Markovitz has been upped from Sales to the Manager of Business Development at Variety Insight. Whitney Patterson is now a Tracking Coordinator at Variety Insight. She was previously a Freelance Marketing Consultant.
Chris York has been named the Senior Director of A&R at Capitol Records. He was formerly the Director of A&R at Capitol Christian Music Group.