Company Launches & Partnerships
Comcast’s NBCU has acquired DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion. Once the acquisition is finalized, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg will become Chairman of DreamWorks New Media, a unit comprised of AwesomenessTV and the visualization technology platform NOVA. NBCU and Comcast will now be connected to DreamWorks Animation’s Netflix projects.
The video analytics firm Tubular Labs has launched Tubular Video Ratings, a new standardized metric. Tubular Video Ratings will be the first metric to rate engagement and views for video content (not ads) across YouTube, Facebook, and Vine over 100 million videos and 5 million brands and influencers.
Paramount and MCN Studio 71 have signed a multi-picture movie agreement. The first title that Paramount will release under the deal is Be Somebody, a comedy from Vine star Matthew Espinosa.
Viacom International Media Networks Asia has signed a multi-year content deal with LeEco, one of China’s major online VOD platforms. LeEco will have exclusive broadcast rights for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, marking the first time the U.S. show will air in China and OTT rights to select episodes of Nickelodeon TV series.
Rovi has acquired TiVo in a deal valued at $1.1 billion in cash and stock. Rovi CEO Tom Carson will helm the new company which will simply be called TiVo. TiVo will gain a strong research apparatus from Rovi as the tech and software company has built up a trove of valuable analytics data related to TV viewership.
China has shut down both iTunes Movies and the iBooks Store. Apple launched both services just six months ago in China. The move comes as China seeks to promote domestic tech companies and restrict the operations of their foreign competitors.
Film
Brad Weston is stepping down from his role as President and CEO of New Regency, a position he has held for the last five years.
David Baxter has been named the Head of Content Development at Legion M. He was previously the Publisher Relations/Brand Activation Manger at Gamevice. Terri Lubaroff has been named the Head of Content Acquisition at Legion M. Terri was formerly the Chief Operating Officer at Meltdown Entertainment Group.
Mandy Beckner has been named the VP of Creative Affairs at Heyday Films. She was formerly the VP of Development at Olympus Pictures.
David S. Collins has been named the Writer, Producer at Sweeny Collins Productions. He was previously the Development Executive at Connect Entertainment.
Adam Fields has been named the Co-President of Production at Relativity. He was previously the Producer, Consultant at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Michael Glassman has been named the VP of Film at LD Entertainment. He was previously the Head of Film at Outlaw Productions.
Chet Devaskar has joined Covert Media as EVP of Business & Legal Affairs. He will focus on Covert’s film production slate and handle all above the line talent deals and financial closings for upcoming production projects. Chet joins Covert from Treehouse Pictures where he served as Head of Business Affairs and General Counsel.
Peter Kang has been named the Co-President of Production at Lionsgate. He was previously the EVP of Production at Paramount Pictures.
Lori Sinanyan will be the Chief Counsel at Relativity Media (as of May 2nd, 2016). She was formerly the Counsel at Jones Day.
Edouard de Vésinne has been named the Deputy CEO at EuropaCorp. He was previously the Co-President at EuropaCorp Television in Paris.
TV
Alex Sepiol has been upped from SVP to EVP of Scripted Development at NBCUnivesal Cable Entertainment. Michael Sluchan will now oversee content as SVP of NBCUni Cable. Sluchan was previously SVP and Head of Current for USA. Heather Olander will be the SVP of Unscripted Programming at USA Network and SyFy. In accordance with NBCUniversal Cable consolidating their scripted operations, Sepiol and his team will work across the entire portfolio, take in pitches and recommend which network would be best suited for each new project.
Jared Albert has been named the Manager of Publicity & Communications at Discovery Family Channel. He was previously the Senior Publicist at Animal Planet.
Patrice Andrews has been named the General Manager at Animal Planet (as of mid-June 2016) She was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of East Coast at ITV Studios America.
Betsy Sanner Ayala has been named the VP of Programming at HGTV, DIY Network, and Great American Country. She was formerly the VP of Programming & Production at PTA Networks.
Sharon Bordas has been named the VP of Scripted Development at Lifetime. She was formerly the EVP of Production & Development at MarVista Entertainment.
Michael Clemente has shifted from EVP of News Editorial to the EVP of News Specials at Fox News. Jay Wallace has been upped from SVP of News and Senior Executive Producer, News & Politics to the EVP of News & Editorial at Fox News.
Liza Burnett Fefferman has been named the SVP of Communications for VH1 and Logo. She will oversee all communications for VH1 and Logo’s brand and content, oversee awards efforts, and help those brands as they expand beyond reality and into scripted and documentary films. Previously she was an EVP at RADiUS in PR and involved in 40 film launches.
Kurt Davis has been upped from VP of News Services to the EVP of Affiliate Relations at CBS Television Network. Tiffany Smith-Anoa’I has been upped from SVP to the EVP of Diversity, Inclusion & Communications at CBS Entertainment.
Jackie de Crinis has been named the President at Jackie de Crinis Productions Inc. She was formerly the EVP of Original Programming at USA Network.
Les Eisner has been named the SVP of Corporate Communications at Fox Broadcasting Company. He was previously the VP of Corporate Communications at A+E Networks.
Matt Gentile has been named the Account Executive of Cable Advertising Sales at Entertainment Studios Networks. He was previously the Account Executive of Advertising Sales at ION Media Networks.
Jason Goldberg has been named the President of Non-Scripted & Alternative Programming at STX Entertainment. He was previously the Co-Founder, Partner at Katalyst.
Cristián Jofré has been named the Creative Director at Viceland International. Cristián was formerly the SVP of Marketing and Creative Director at MTV Networks International. Nick Weidenfeld has been named the President of Programming at Viceland. He was previously the Head of Development, Adult Swim and President at ADHD Studios.
Sheraton Kalouria has been upped from EVP to the President, Chief Marketing Officer at Sony Pictures Television.
Jessica Sebastian has been named the SVP of Development for ITV America’s in-house reality production banner. In her new role, she will oversee development, focusing on creating talent-driven series and innovative formats across a range of unscripted genres. She previously served as Head of Alternative Programming at USA Network.
Sharon Bordas is now the VP of Scripted Development at Lifetime. She will develop and oversee production of scripted series. Bordas was previously the EVP, Production and Development at MarVista.
Barry Poznick has been named the President of Unscripted Television at the MGM Television Group. He will oversee the creative and development of all unscripted television content. Poznick was the Founder and Co-CEO of Zoo Prods where he co-created/executive produced the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.
Bill Hilary has resigned from his post as President of Fuse Media to pursue other opportunities. The senior staff at Fuse will now report to CEO Michael Schwimmer.
Catrice Monson has been named the SVP Diversity and Inclusion at CBS Corp. In the role she will work to expand and enhance diversity initiatives for CBS Corp. and its business units. She most recently was SVP Labor Relations, representing the CBS Television Network and the labor relations department in negotiations with entertainment unions and guilds on issues related to diversity and increasing access.
Management, PR, Agencies
Geoff Edwards, Bianca Pettinicchi, Joe Saroufim, and Erin Sullivan have been named Executives of Marketing at CAA. Edwards was previously the Co-Founder at DOJO. Bianca Pettinicchi has been named the Executive of Marketing at CAA. Pettinicchi was formerly the Director/Designer, Digital & Print Ad, TBWA/Chiat/Day. Saroufim was previously the Writer/Producer of Branded Content at 72andSunny. Saroufim was formerly the VP at Poolhouse.
Willy Villarreal has been named the VP of Brand Marketing & Communications at PMK•BNC/VOCES. He was previously the VP of Consumer Marketing & Western Region Multicultural Lead at Edelman.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Stephen Swad is now the CFO at digital media company, Vox Media. He was formerly the CEO of the language-learning software company Rosetta Stone Inc.
Jenna Goudreau has been hired as a Managing Editor at CNBC and will head strategy and execution of CNBC Make It, the network’s new site focused on money matters. She joins CNBC from Business Insider, where she served as a Deputy Editor.
AJ Mathew is now the VP of Research at Kargo, the mobile marketplace for premium brand advertising. He was previously at Apple, where he served as Global Head of Measurement & Insights for the company’s iAd platform.
Tommy Coriale has been upped to GM of DIGA. The new role grows Coriale’s current responsibilities as VP of Production to include oversight of business development and growth for DIGA. Coriale was previously at Eastern, where he oversaw production of the Love & Hip Hop franchise.
Steve Bunnell has been named the SVP, Chief Content and Programming Officer at Regal Entertainment Group, joining on June 14. He was previously at Universal Theatrical Distribution where he was EVP and General Sales Manager.
Nathan Brown has been named the SVP of Development & Operations at Discovery Digital Networks. He was previously the SVP, GM of Video at The Huffington Post in New York.
Barak Moffitt has been upped from Head of Strategic Operations to the EVP of Content Strategy & Operations at Universal Music Group.