Company Launches & Partnerships
Sports-oriented MCN Whistle Sports has signed a content deal with online video site Dailymotion. Whistle Sports will collaborate with upwards of 20 YouTube stars, including Air Japes, Dirty Mike, and Freestyle Factory, to create original programming for over 26 of Dailymotion’s digital channels.
Video technology platform Kaltura has partnered with automotive-centric media company TEN: The Enthusiast Network. Under the deal, Kaltura will give content to Motor Trend OnDemand, TEN’s new auto-enthusiast-oriented SVOD service.
Men’s lifestyle publisher CraveOnline has launched a revamped version of LiveOutdoors.com, its vertical about outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. David Rosenfeld has signed on as LiveOutdoors.com’s Managing Editor. He is a veteran outdoors journalist.
Production company and MCN Collective Digital Studios has signed Family Fun Pack to its family of YouTube channels. The channel focuses on five young children and has garnered over 2 billion views since its launch in 2011.
AT&T has signed a multi-platform, long-term distribution pact with A+E Networks. The deal covers TV Everywhere, VOD, mobile, and linear. AT&T will continue providing A+E’s channels via AT&T’s U-verse TV and DirecTV and add Viceland, the upcoming 24-hour linear TV channel from Vice Media to their offerings.
Film
Rebecca Kearey has been upped from EVP to President at Fox Searchlight International.
TV
Joseph Di Scipio has been upped from VP to the SVP of Legal & FCC Compliance at Fox Television Stations, Inc.
Hector Fabregas has been upped from Director of Local Sales to the VP and Director of Sales at Univision Chicago.
Miriam Brent is now a Script Executive at Duchess Street Productions. She was previously a Development Editor at Raw TV. She will now develop Duchess Street’s slate of high-end, original drama and dramatic adaptations.
Adam Fasullo has been upped from Manager to the Director of Drama Development at Paramount Television.
Thomas Ferguson has been hired as the Director of Licensing at Endemol Shine North America. Formerly, he was the Manager of Franchise Management at Endemol Shine North America.
Simon Foster has been shifted from SVP of Digital Publishing & Business Development to the SVP of Corporate Development at Blue Ant Media. Jamie Schouela has shifted from SVP of Digital Publishing & Business Development to EVP, Canadian Networks at Blue Ant Media.
Lauren Frasca has been hired as the VP of Development at MSNBC Longform in New York. Formerly, she was the VP of Original Programming at The Weather Channel in New York. Nina Weinstein has been hired as the Director of Development at MSNBC Longform in New York. Previously, she was the Senior Producer at RocknRobin Productions.
Albie Hecht is now pursuing other opportunities. Formerly, he was the President at HLN in New York.
Keith Kazerman has signed on to be the Head of Advertising Sales Product Strategy & Development at Discovery Communications in New York. Formerly, he was the SVP of National Advertising Sales at DIRECTV.
Keli Lee has been hired as the Managing Director of International Content & Talent at ABC Entertainment Group in London. Previously, Keli was the EVP of Casting at ABC Entertainment Group.
Tony Sella has been hired as the CCO at AKS Content. Formerly, he was the President of Marketing and CCO at 20th Century Fox.
Phil Temple has been hired as an Executive Producer at Kudos in London. Formerly, he was the Development Producer at Carnival.
Chris Viscardi has been hired as the SVP of Content Development at Franchise Properties at Nickelodeon. Formerly, he was the Executive Producer at Sanjay and Craig.
John Malkin has been hired as the EVP of Content Distribution at Ovation TV. Formerly, he was the VP of Affiliate Distribution at NFL Network.
Jeff Meyerson has been hired as the VP of Comedy Development at NBC Entertainment. Formerly, he was the VP of Original Programming at IFC.
Andrew Moncrief has been hired as the Head of Production at Halyard Park. Formerly, he was the Director of Development at Morgan Creek Productions.
Management, PR, Agencies
Ryan Bartlett has been hired as a Talent Agent at UTA. He was formerly a Talent Agent at Paradigm. Mike Rose has been hired as the Head of Creative Affairs at UTA. Formerly, he was the Content Consultant of Global Narrative.
Nick Collins has been made Partner, Talent at Gersh in addition to his role as a Talent Agent. Josh Glick has been hired as a Talent Manager at Grandview. He was formerly a Talent Agent at Gersh.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Alex MacCallum will now head The New York Times video department. She was previously the Assistant Masthead Editor for Audience Development and Product. She will start the position in January.
Laura Breines has been named the VP and Director of Client Services at Brooklyn-based digital ad agency Big Spaceship. She was formerly the VP, Marketing and Group Engagement Director at HUGE. Duncan Snowden, who has served as Big Spaceship’s Group Strategy Director since 2013, has been promoted to VP of Strategy.
Andy Forssell has signed on to online video company Fullscreen as their COO. He will manage the day-to-day operations of the company’s three divisions: serving creators, brands and consumers, as well as shared services. He also joins the board of directors. Previously he was the SVP of Content at Hulu.
Mina Baban has been hired as a Coordinator of Drama at Amazon Studios. Previously, she was an Assistant to Marc Korman at WME.
Bob Bowen has been hired as the Head of Music at Amazon Studios. Formerly, he was the President of Music at Relativity Media.
Don Reilley has been hired as the VP, Head of National Brand Partnerships at Machinima in New York. Formerly, he was the EVP of Global Ad Sales at Major League Gaming.