Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Nickelodeon France to Premiere 'Ollie’s Pack' on Monday 9th November 2020

Nickelodeon France will premiere Nickelodeon’s brand new original action-comedy series, Ollie’s Pack on Monday 9th November 2020 at 16:05! Following launch, new episodes of Ollie's Pack, locally titled Ollie et le Monstrosac, will air weekdays at 16:05 on Nickelodeon France.


From Megazap:

OLLIE ET LE MONSTROSAC, la nouvelle série NICKELODEON dès le 9 novembre

Direction le "Monstromonde" sur NICKELODEON avec la série inédite OLLIE ET LE MONSTROSAC  à découvrir dès le 9 novembre.

Avec cette nouvelle série originale NICKELODEON, qui mêle comédie et action, les enfants découvrent un nouveau héros, Ollie, un jeune garçon impulsif, téméraire et créatif qui a la charge d'un sac un peu spécial puisqu'il vient d'un autre monde... Et pas n'importe lequel, le "Monstromonde" ! Avec ses deux meilleurs amis, il se lance dans de monstrueuses aventures et qu'il s'agisse de se faufiler dans un film, de faire sa lessive ou encore de gagner un concours à l'école, peu importe le problème, il y a toujours un monstre pour le résoudre.

Le pitch - Ollie est un garçon de 13 ans ordinaire qui a été choisi pour être le gardien du Monstrosac, portail entre la Terre et le "Monstromonde". Sa mission ? Protéger les humains des terribles monstres qui se sont échappés. Heureusement, il peut aussi compter sur les gentils monstres du "Monstromonde" toujours prêts à lui donner un coup de main pour l'aider dans son quotidien.

OLLIE ET LE MONSTROSAC est né du court métrage "Monster Pack" créé par Pedro Eboli (créateur de Cupcake & Dino) et Graham Peterson (chef animateur de Rick & Morty), dans le cadre du "Nickelodeon’s 2013 Animated Shorts Program" qui permet à de jeunes créateurs de développer des pilotes pour des séries à destination des chaînes Nickelodeon. Le programme a notamment fait émerger la célèbre série Bienvenue chez les Loud qui cartonne auprès des plus jeunes.

Une nouvelle série monstrueusement géniale à découvrir en exclusivité sur NICKELODEON !

OLLIE ET LE MONSTROSAC est à retrouver dés le 9 novembre, du lundi au vendredi à 16h05 sur Nickelodeon, une chaîne disponible dans les Offres Canal+ en Outre-Mer, CanalBox, Orange, SFR, Zeop, GO TV et sur tous les supports TV en France Métropolitaine.

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Nickelodeon Benelux Acquires Rights to 'Odd Squad' Season 1

Nickelodeon Benelux (BLX) has acquired the rights to the first season of Odd Squad from the award-winning Canadian production company Sinking Ship Entertainment! The series will air in both Dutch and Flemish on Nickelodeon channels in the Netherlands and Belgium.


ODD SQUAD is a live-action Canadian/American educational comedy about kid agents who work for a secret government agency run by kids. These agents are equipped with the world’s most advanced and unpredictable gadgetry and whenever something strange or unusual happens, it’s Odd Squad’s job to put things right by using Math to solve odd problems. If something odd happens like your dog is doubled or your spouse is shrunk, not to worry. Simply call your friendly local Odd Squad precinct and those kids will fix you right up. 


ODD SQUAD is created by Timothy McKeon (Wallykazam!, Adventure Time) and Adam Peltzman (Blue's Clues, Wallykazam!, Winx Club) and stars Millie Davis (Corn & Peg, Dino Dana, Wonder) as Ms. O/The Big O, Sean Michael Kyer as Agent Oscar, Dalila Bela as Agent Olive, and Filip Geljo (Avatar 2 - 4) as Agent Otto.

Odd Squad season one has 80 11-minute episodes or 40 22-minute episodes. The series is aimed at kids aged 4-8, and is produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Sinking Ship Entertainment.

Debuting in 2014, the success of Odd Squad has led to a movie, Odd Squad: The Movie, and a spin-off, Odd Squad Mobile Unit.

Mehmet Gunduz, manager of sales for CEEMA and LatAm, said: “Sinking Ship Entertainment has always strived to bring diverse, commercially-friendly educational kids’ content to audiences around the world. The international appetite for our series continues to grow exponentially as the buyers are always looking for high-quality completed series, even now more than ever.”


Originally published: Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

Source: TVKIDS.

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MyPostcard Launches Nickelodeon Collection

MyPostcard has partnered with Nickelodeon to launch a collection of Nickelodeon designs on the personalised postcard and greeting card platform!


Beginning today (October 21), users can find over 500 different postcard themes featuring beloved Nickelodeon properties, including: SpongeBob SquarePants, Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, PAW Patrol, CatDog and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

In addition to the regular motifs, users can also find a special Halloween collection to celebrate the season, featuring spooky designs based on SpongeBob SquarePants, Rugrats and PAW Patrol.

With MyPostcard, users can choose from over 50,000 different designs to create personalised and real, printed postcards via the app. Users also have the option to upload their own photos to incorporate themselves or their loved ones into the design. MyPostcard takes care of the printing, franking and worldwide postage.

The Nickelodeon collection can be found in the free MyPostcard app, where each show has its own area within it. The MyPostcard app is available to download from the Apple App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Below is ViacomCBS Networks GSA's official presse release announcing the exciting news!:

MyPostcard kooperiert mit Nickelodeon

Berlin, 21.10.2020 - Die Helden aus den beliebten Nickelodeon-Serien „SpongeBob Schwammkopf“, „Rugrats“, „Hey Arnold!“, „PAW Patrol“, „CatDog“ und „Avatar – Der Herr der Elemente“ zieren ab 21. Oktober verschiedene Postkarten im Angebot der App MyPostcard. Mit MyPostcard können NutzerInnen aus über 50.000 verschiedenen Motiven wählen und so per App personalisierte und echte, gedruckte Postkarten erstellen. MyPostcard kümmert sich um den Druck, die Frankierung und den weltweiten Versand.

Passend zur Jahreszeit gibt es neben regulären Motiven auch eine eigene Halloween-Kollektion, in der sich die Helden aus den drei Shows „SpongeBob Schwammkopf“, „Rugrats“ und „PAW Patrol“ in gruselige Abenteuer stürzen.

Die insgesamt über 500 Motive der Nickelodeon-Kollektion finden UserInnen ab sofort im Design-Store der App, hier gibt es für jede der insgesamt sechs Shows und ihre Helden ein eigenes Profil.

Über MyPostcard

Die Postkarte von morgen: MyPostcard ist Deutschlands erfolgreichste Postkarten App, die es ermöglicht, eigene Fotos als echte gedruckte Postkarte zu versenden. Die App ist aktuell weltweit in zehn Sprachen verfügbar und bietet mit über 50.000 Designs das weltweit größte Postkartenangebot. MyPostcard kümmert sich mit Hilfe eines internationalen Druckerei-Netzwerkes um den Druck, die Frankierung und den weltweiten Versand der personalisierten Postkarten. Gründer und CEO ist Designer und Serial - Entrepreneur Oliver Kray. Das Unternehmen mit Sitz in Berlin und einem Büro in New York beschäftigt momentan 30 Mitarbeiter und gehört im Ranking der Financial Times zu den Top 1000 Fastest Growing Companies in Europa, im Bereich E-Commerce belegt MyPostcard europaweit sogar Platz 19. 

Über Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon ist weltweit die Nr. 1 bei Kindern und Heimat beliebter Kinder- und Jugendserien wie 'SpongeBob Schwammkopf', 'Das Geheimnis der Hunters', 'Spotlight', 'Willkommen bei den Louds' und 'Aufstieg der Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'. Besonderes Programm-Highlight sind die jährlich stattfindenden 'Nickelodeon Kids‘ Choice Awards', eine starbesetzte Show, in der Kinder weltweit über die Preisträger abstimmen.

Zu Nickelodeon gehören neben dem abwechslungsreichen Angebot Nick im TV, auf nick.de und diversen Apps außerdem der Bereich Consumer Products, Events und Freizeitangebote sowie Publishing-Produkte, wodurch Fans ihre Nick-Helden überall hin mitnehmen und in der echten Welt erleben können.

Nickelodeon ist eine Marke der ViacomCBS Networks GSA. Für mehr aktuelle Informationen zu ViacomCBS Networks GSA und unseren Marken folgen Sie uns auf twitter.com/vimngermany, facebook.com/viacomcbsgsa oder besuchen Sie unsere Webseite unter viacom.de.

--Ende--

More Nick: Nickelodeon Updates Icons, Sets New Characters for 2021 | Next-Gen Nick!

Originally published: Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

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Nami Melumad to Score Nickelodeon's 'Star Trek: Prodigy'

Nami Melumad (An American Pickle, Absentia, Miss Arizona) has been tapped to score Nickelodeon's upcoming CG-animated Star Trek series, Star Trek: Prodigy.


Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation. The series will feature Kate Mulgrew, who will be reprising her Star Trek: Voyager character, Captain Kathryn Janeway.

The series is being developed by Kevin Hageman & Dan Hageman (Scary Stories to Tell in the DarkNinjago: Masters of Spinjitzu).

No other casting announcements have been made yet so far. Kevin & Dan Hageman are also executive producing the CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment production with Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry & Trevor Roth (Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard) and Katie Krentz (Star Trek: Lower Decks). Ben Hibon (Codehunters) serves as director, co-executive producer and the creative lead of the project. Aaron Baiers will also serve as co-executive producer with Mac Middleton as a producer. Production of Star Trek: Prodigy is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Animation Development and Kelley Gardner, Vice President, Current Series Animation.

Melumad is the first woman to ever score a Trek episode with her work on Star Trek: Short Treks: Q&A. “I had a lot of fun doing it,” she said, via her Instagram account. “Especially the end credits theme.”

Melumad has also recently collaborated with Michael Giacchino on the score for the upcoming video game Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, which is set to be released on December 11, 2020.

Born in Israel, Melumad has the following awards: the Hollywood Music in Media Award for her work on Passage (2018), Best Short Score at Fimucite (2017) and Best Featurette Score at Idyllwild Festival of Cinema (2018).

She holds a B.A. in multi-style composition from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and is a board member of the Alliance for Women Film Composers and a voting member at the Television Academy.

Mulgrew's return as her Star Trek: Voyager character was announced at New York Comic Con Metaverse. During the event, Mulgrew said, “I have invested every scintilla of my being in Captain Janeway, and I can’t wait to endow her with nuance that I never did before in Star Trek: Prodigy. How thrilling to be able to introduce to these young minds an idea that has elevated the world for decades. To be at the helm again is going to be deeply gratifying in a new way for me.”

Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman said, “Captain Janeway was held to a different standard than her predecessors. She was asked to embody an inhuman level of perfection in order to be accepted as ‘good enough’ by the doubters, but showed them all what it means to be truly outstanding. We can think of no better captain to inspire the next generation of dreamers on Nickelodeon, than she.”

“Kate’s portrayal of Captain Janeway is truly iconic, and has resonated with a global audience for many years,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation. “We can’t wait to see her bring this character to life in a whole new way, while continuing to be an inspiration for both new and loyal fans.”

Star Trek: Prodigy is a new animated series in the works for Nickelodeon that is aimed at younger viewsers. It is one of several Star Trek projects currently in development as the franchise continues to expand. The CG-animated series will debut exclusively on Nickelodeon in 2021.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Updates Icons, Sets New Characters for 2021 | Next-Gen Nick!

Originally published: Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

Sources: Film Music ReporterTrekTodayComicBook.

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[Archived] Nickelodeon USA to Host 'SpongeBob Code-Catcher: HallowScream Edition' Starting Monday, October 19, 2020


This page has been archived. For the latest edition of SpongeBob Code-Catcher Challenge, click here: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2020/07/nickelodeon-usa-to-host-spongebob-code.html

The SpongeBob Code-Catcher Challenge returns for a HALLOWSCREAM edition!


All week long, special QR codes will pop-up over your favorite episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants. Use the Screens Up app to catch and scan the codes and unlock bonus trivia questions. Answer the questions correctly, and your points will pile up, unlocking medals!

So keep your eyes peeled for the SpongeBob Code-Catcher HallowScream Edition, starts Monday, October 19 at 4/3c, only on Nickelodeon USA!


The SpongeBob Code-Catcher Challenge: HallowScream Edition follows the success of Nickelodeon's first SpongeBob Code-Catcher Challenge between July 6-9 July 2020, as well as Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SmartyPants Challenge.

SpongeBob Code-Collector Hallowscream Edition Bumpers and on-screen BUGS
















Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!

Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!: https://spongebobmusical.blogspot.com

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch!

CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!

Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!

More Nick: Nickelodeon Reveals First Look of Characters in Original 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years' Animated Series!

Originally published: Monday, July 06, 2020.

H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@kanc.

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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | Nickelodeon

Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | Nickelodeon
Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.

Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.

Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats

More Nick: Nickelodeon Unveils First Look at CG-Animated 'Rugrats' and 'Big Nate'!
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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Tuesday, October 20, 2020 | Nickelodeon

Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Tuesday, October 20, 2020 | Nickelodeon
Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.

Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.

Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats

More Nick: Nickelodeon Unveils First Look at CG-Animated 'Rugrats' and 'Big Nate'!
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Rainbow Rangers | All New! Friday 2:25pm E/T on Treehouse!

Rainbow Rangers | All New! Friday 2:25pm E/T on Treehouse!


Treehouse is the place to see your favourite colourful crew! Catch an all new Rainbow Rangers Friday 2:25pm E/T on Treehouse!

Fans in the U.S. can catch brand new episodes of Rainbow Rangers Sundays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) on the Nick Jr. channel, do-do doo! http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2020/09/nickelodeon-usas-october-2020-premiere.html

More Nick: Treehouse to Premiere 'Santiago of the Seas' on Sunday, November 8!
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Shake | READY SET DANCE

Shake | READY SET DANCE


Visit www.readyset.dance for information about READY SET DANCE dance classes for preschoolers.

Watch READY SET DANCE season one on Nick Jr. channels globally and on 10 Shake in Australia!

More Nick: ViacomCBS Launches New FTA Network 10 Shake in Australia!
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NickToons Global to Host Halloween Marathon on Saturday 31st October 2020

Be afraid - VERY AFRAID, and its coming for YOU! The Nicktoons Halloween Marathon! It's going to be shockingly good, with the best Halloween episodes, plus Halloween premieres of Ollie's Pack, Dorg Van Dango and The Casagrandes! 'Toon into the Nicktoons' shockingly good Halloween Marathon, Saturday 31st October 2020, only on NickToons Global!

The Halloween Marathon Promo - October 31 (NickToons Global)



Halloween Marathon Vorschau für den 31.10.2020 (NickToons Deutschland)


More Nick: Nickelodeon Invites Viewers to Spend 'Christmas With The Bramleys' with New 'It's Pony' Holiday Special!

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'SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run' Director Reflects on Disappointing Release

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has caused a huge disruption in the movie industry, from productions being indefinitely suspended to the postponement of new releases. Even when films are released, they play in theaters where audience capacity is strictly limited, hampering their chances to recoup production and marketing costs at the box office, let alone turning a profit.

Paramount Pictures

While some films are struggling to make money in U.S. theaters, at least they have the opportunity to do so — others aren't opening in the country at all. In the case of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, fans in North America can only see it if they head to Canadian cinemas, where it has been playing exclusively since opening in mid-August.

In an interview with Looper about his other new film, The War with Grandpa, a family comedy starring Robert De Niro that opens in theaters October 9, The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run director Tim Hill says he particularly missed sharing the celebration of the release with the artists and actors who worked on the film.

"It's terrible. I was hoping for a big fanfare and a great premiere and seeing all the people I worked with, and doing a cast and crew screening, being able to at least thank people, which never happened," Hill says. "It was just what we're doing now, like, 'Bye. Movie's over.' It didn't feel natural, for sure."

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Sponge On The Run, the third SpongeBob SquarePants movie, was originally supposed to be released in U.S. theaters in May, then was delayed until August before Paramount Pictures made the decision to offer it on premium Video On Demand instead. In an eerie sort of way, the postponement of the U.S. release of The SpongeBob Movie reminds Hill of the tragedy that cast a dark shadow over another film he directed just before its release in the U.S. in 2001.

"Oddly, one of my first movies [Max Keeble's Big Move] came out around 9/11. I kind of went through the same thing because theaters were closed. We couldn't have a premiere. I don't know if [moviegoers] remember, but people were afraid to go into theaters," Hill recalls. "Cable wasn't as expanded as it is now, and they really couldn't get any marketing on TV, because it was 24 hours [of coverage of the tragedy]. Not that anyone should care about my problems, considering what happened that day, but it's just strange that there was that event, and then there's COVID, and both affected my movies."

Jenny Anderson/Getty Images

Sponge on the Run, of course, is the latest movie based on the smash animated Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants. The franchise is clearly near and dear to Hill's heart — he originally teamed with creator Stephen Hillenburg to develop the series, which premiered in 1999.

Hill spoke fondly of his late creative partner (Hillenburg died from ALS in 2018) and the origins of SpongeBob SquarePants with Looper, and admits they were both surprised by the success of the series.

"Steve and I worked on Rocko's Modern Life, which was another Nickelodeon show," Hill explains. "I was a story editor and he was the director. I don't know. We just hit it off really well. He asked me, 'Hey, will you look at some of my drawings for this show? I'm going to call it Sponge Boy.'"

"We lived near each other. He was only four or five blocks away. So, we sat on my deck, and I went through it. He goes, 'I'm going to run this show for [Rocko creator] Joe Murray. I'm going to run Rocko. As a kind of a consolation, they're going to give me a pilot deal.' Like you get 25, 20 grand to come up with something." Hill adds. "It was a common practice when they were trying to get the development material. That was how he got a little money. He had an idea, and he asked me to write up a pitch document and a bible, and we worked on 13 premises for episodes."

Hill says what would eventually become SpongeBob SquarePants really became a passion project for Hillenburg, mainly because of his love of the environment. The director notes that Hillenburg never really thought about the long-term prospects for the series' success, much less becoming a cultural phenomenon.

"I don't think Steve ever thought, 'It has to be a hit' or anything. It was just something he really wanted to do. He'd been a marine biologist and a surfer. He loved and wanted to incorporate his view of the ocean into characters, and his love of that aquatic kind of world," Hill says. "So, I think it was more just him trusting his own instincts. He wasn't aiming for an audience, I don't think. He wasn't, like I say, looking to be the most successful show ever, as far as I know, anyway. He just wanted to have fun making it. That's what the first season really was. It's just pretty free for all artists and funny people."

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, will debut digitally in the U.S via premium video on demand in early 2021 and then move exclusively to ​CBS All Access​, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on demand and live-streaming service, following the Premium Video on Demand window. Internationally, the movie will be available on Netflix in November 2020. The movie will be joined by SpongeBob prequel series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years on CBS All Access.

More from Looper:

If you do another SpongeBob movie or work on the TV series again, you have a good "in" with Robert De Niro now. What are the chances maybe you could get him to voice a character, maybe as SpongeBob's grandpa or something?

[Laughs] Possibly. People who do those things usually have a kid or a grandkid that's really into it. So it's fun for them to say, "Hey, I'm this character on this show that you love." That's always one way that you attract some of these actors, is they can tell their family they're on a cartoon or something.

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More Nick: 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run' Pays Tribute to 'SpongeBob' Creator Stephen Hillenburg!

Originally published: Thursday, October 08, 2020.

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ViacomCBS Int'l Promotes Wincie Knight to VP of Global Inclusion Strategy

ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has promoted Wincie Knight to Vice President (VP) of global inclusion strategy.


Knight (pictured) will be based in London and report to Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President (EVP) of global inclusion at ViacomCBS and Executive Vice President (EVP), public affairs, Kids and Family Entertainment Brands, at ViacomCBS Media Networks; and Maria Kyriacou, President of VCN UK, Australia and Israel.

In her new role, Knight will join the UK Cluster Senior Leadership Team, overseeing the development of insights-driven strategic plans for diversity and inclusion across VCNI, and partner across the business to implement solutions that drive inclusive business behaviors at all levels of the company.

Knight will lead a team to deliver diversity and inclusion objectives in the UK and Europe, Israel, Middle East, Africa and Asia, and work closely with the company’s senior leadership and the Office of Global Inclusion.

The executive started her career at Viacom in 1999, later joining the Office of Global Inclusion team in 2014 as senior director, global inclusion strategy.

In that role, Knight spearheaded Viacom UK’s first Inclusion Week in 2018, which was then expanded in 2019 to all of the company’s offices in more than 30 countries.

In 2019, she played a key role in commissioning a Caerus Executive report to examine the experiences of Black, Asian, Minority, and Ethnic (BAME) employees at Viacom UK.

Knight also launched an employee-led mental health initiative with VCN UK employees trained by Mental Health First Aid England, to serve as mental health ambassadors for the VCN UK office.

Knight was recognized as a 2020 British LGBT+ Awards Top 10 Corporate Ally and was named a BAME Workplace Hero by the 2018 Investing in Ethnicity Awards.

Smalls said: “Wincie has been a longtime asset to our global inclusion team, and her work has helped transform ViacomCBS’ international diversity and inclusion strategy.” Knight added: “I look forward to the work we will continue to do in order to ensure authentic, meaningful inclusion across our business.”

Knight’s promotion follows ViacomCBS Networks International introducing a global “no diversity, no commission” strategy last week.


Sources: Realscreen, Deadline.

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Paramount Appoints Jeremy Kramer as President of Paramount Players

Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group President Emma Watts has hired former 20th Century Studios executive Jeremy Kramer as president of Paramount Players, Variety reports.


The news follows reports earlier this month that Kramer was circling the post. Paramount Players was created as a genre label by Brian Robbins, the founder and former CEO of AwesomenessTV. Robbins left the studio to run Nickelodeon in 2018.

The hiring of Kramer, who will report to Watts, was announced Tuesday, October 20. He will oversee the films made under the Paramount Players label, which has the task of creating genre films from “unique, contemporary” voices and properties. Ashley Brucks, who previously served as executive vice president of production for Paramount Pictures, will be moving to Paramount Players as senior executive vice president of production.

“Jeremy has a proven track record of nurturing talent, both established and new, supporting their vision and helping them execute at the highest level — from Let’s Be Cops to Kingsman to Deadpool,” Watts said. “There’s isn’t a movie that he’s worked on that he hasn’t made better. The challenges of ensuring that Paramount Players grows and addresses the demands of our various audiences are formidable and we know that Jeremy is up to this task and we welcome him to our team.”

Kramer began his career as an independent producer producing Noah Baumbach’s directorial debut Kicking and Screaming in 1995. His career started at MPCA and Orion, then in 1998 he became senior vice president of production at Miramax Films. In 2004 joined DreamWorks, where he worked closely with Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld’s Red Hour Films.

Kramer returned to producing as a partner at Red Hour. In 2010, Watts brought Kramer back into the studio world as an executive vice president of production at 20th Century Fox. During his career, Kramer has overseen more than 50 films including She’s All That, Blades of Glory, Disturbia, Tropic Thunder, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, both Deadpool movies and most recently, the latest installment of the Kingsman franchise.

Kramer also spearheaded Fox’s first projects produced for streaming services, including the Lil Rel Howery and John Cena comedy Vacation Friends for Hulu, as well as Home Alone for Disney Plus.

“My years working with Emma and Jim [Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures] at Fox were some of the most enjoyable and rewarding days I’ve had in the film business, and I am fortunate and excited to make movies with them again,” says Kramer. “We’re excited to build a slate of commercial movies that will empower new voices and experienced filmmakers to deliver the original movies that audiences crave.”

Bruck developed and oversaw A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II. She also oversaw the remake of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and Alex Aja’s Crawl. She was the studio executive who founded, championed and oversaw the micro-budgeted Paranormal Activity franchise. Currently, she is supervising for Paramount the latest chapter in the Scream series, as well as The Lost City of D, starring Sandra Bullock, and the big screen musical adaptation of Mean Girls.

Launched in 2017, Paramount Players has a mandate to develop and produce features in conjunction with ViacomCBS-owned brands such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and BET. Films from the Paramount Players label so far include Dora and the Lost City of Gold, based on Nickelodeon's beloved animated preschool series Dora the Explorer, Playing With Fire starring John Cena, What Men Want, Body Cam. A live-action/CGI-hybrid Rugrats movie was also in the works, but has since been shelved. The label was also slated to revive and produce a theatrical version of Nickelodeon's fan-favorite horror anthology series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, however, Nickelodeon later decided that the revival would work better as a TV miniseries, which was renewed for a second season earlier this year.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!

Originally published: Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

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Jonathan Entwistle Signs On to Reimagine New Film & Television Universe Based on 'Power Rangers'

JONATHAN ENTWISTLE SIGNS ON TO REIMAGINE NEW FILM & TELEVISION UNIVERSE BASED ON HASBRO’S POWER RANGERS FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONE

Further driving forward eOne’s strategy to produce wide-appeal film and television content from Hasbro’s rich library of world-class IP


LOS ANGELES – October 20, 2020 – Entertainment One (eOne), Hasbro’s entertainment studio, announced today that producer and director Jonathan Entwistle has come on board to shepherd new film and television adaptations of Power Rangers. eOne will develop and produce the projects with Entwistle set to direct across both formats.

“Jonathan has an incredible creative vision for this iconic and hugely successful franchise, and is hands down the right architect to join us as we reimagine the television and film worlds of this property,” said Nick Meyer, President, Film, eOne and Michael Lombardo, President, Global Television, eOne. “Across our slate, we are looking forward to working with the most talented storytellers as we take on Hasbro’s rich fan-favourite brands and build entertainment universes around them.”

“This is an unbelievable opportunity to deliver new Power Rangers to both new and existing generations of awaiting and adoring fans. We’ll bring the spirit of analog into the future, harnessing the action and storytelling that made this brand a success. I’m looking forward to working with the teams at eOne and Hasbro. Together, we can’t wait to share more Power Rangers with the world very soon,” said Entwistle.

Entwistle most recently co-created the Netflix original series I Am Not Okay With This and created Netflix original series The End Of The F***ing World. He is a graduate of the prestigious Chelsea School of Art in London and is represented by CAA, 42, Grandview and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

Power Rangers is an American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live-action superhero television series, based on the Japanese tokusatsu franchise Super Sentai. The first Power Rangers entry, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, debuted in 1993.

In 2018, Hasbro acquired the Power Rangers franchise from Saban Brands, releasing their first products in early 2019. In addition to the new non-kid projects under Entwistle, Power Rangers-inspired kid series Dino Fury is currently in season two. Hasbro’s film properties include DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, as well as the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE film franchises.

About eOne

Entertainment One Ltd. (eOne) is a talent-driven independent studio that specializes in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. As part of global play and entertainment company Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), eOne's expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment. Through its extensive reach and scale, and a deep commitment to high-quality entertainment, eOne unlocks the power and value of creativity. eOne brings to market both original and existing content, sourcing IP from Hasbro’s portfolio of 1500+ brands, and through a diversified network of creative partners.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play and Entertainment Experiences. From toys, games and consumer products to television, movies, digital gaming, live action, music, and virtual reality experiences, Hasbro connects to global audiences by bringing to life great innovations, stories and brands across established and inventive platforms.  Hasbro’s iconic brands include NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE, POWER RANGERS, PEPPA PIG and PJ MASKS, as well as premier partner brands. Through its global entertainment studio eOne, Hasbro is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 13 on the 2019 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past nine years. We routinely share important business and brand updates on our Investor Relations website, Newsroom and social channels (@Hasbro on Twitter and Instagram).

#   #   #

It should be noted that Jonathan Entwistle joining the Power Rangers franchise isn’t something that just happened. Last December, it was reported that he was in negotiations to direct a new Power Rangers movie for Paramount Pictures that wouldn’t be connected to the last one and would see this Ranger team time traveling back to the 1990s. It’s unclear if this particular project is still in the works (albeit at Entertainment One now) or if it’s been shelved, but either way, his role has now expanded from director of just one movie to creative architect across both film and TV.

Of the three theatrical Power Rangers movies that have been released over the last 25 years, only 1997’s Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie shared universe/continuity with what the Power Rangers were doing on TV, with the movie basically serving as a pilot for the Turbo TV series. 1995’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie served as an alternate take on how the original Mighty Morphin’ team’s powers changed compared to what went down in the TV show, and 2017’s Power Rangers simply delivered fresh takes on Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Billy, Trini, Gordon, Alpha 5, Rita Repulsa and Goldar in the modern era.

Originally the plan was for the last Power Rangers movie to kick off a film series over at Lionsgate, with the immediate sequel intended to introduce Tommy, the Green Ranger. However, along with earning mixed critical reception, Power Rangers only made a little over $142 million off a $105 million budget, those film series plans were scrapped.

Currently Power Rangers Beast Morphers is finishing its second season on Nickelodeon, and Power Rangers Dino Fury will premiere next year. Now that Hasbro is keen on intertwining the film and TV sides of Power Rangers more closely together, it’ll be interesting to see how these deeper connections are specifically reflected on both the big and small screens, although there’s already a multiverse in place that easily allows for numerous Ranger teams to cross paths.

For more on Power Rangers, please visit www.powerrangers.com and follow Power Rangers on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

More Nick: Hasbro Unveils 'Power Rangers Dino Fury' Sneak Peek at Hasbro PulseCon!

Originally published: Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

H/T: Cinema Blend.

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Pierluigi Gazzolo to Leave ViacomCBS Networks International; Kelly Day Elevated to Lead International Streaming; JC Acosta to Lead Ongoing Expansion of ViacomCBS International Studios

Pierluigi Gazzolo to Leave ViacomCBS Networks International

Kelly Day Elevated to Lead International Streaming

JC Acosta to Lead Ongoing Expansion of ViacomCBS International Studios


MIAMI & NEW YORK--OCTOBER 20, 2020--ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a division of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), has today confirmed the departure of one of its longest serving executives, Pierluigi Gazzolo, who will step down from his role as President, Streaming and Studios for VCNI at the end of this month to focus on other interests.


During Gazzolo’s tenure as President of Streaming and Studios for VCNI, he successfully established the content proposition, team and go to market strategy for the international launch of Paramount+ and expanded the roadmap for Pluto TV internationally.

VCNI Streaming Leadership

Reporting to David Lynn, President and CEO of VCNI, and working closely with Tom Ryan, President & CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, Kelly Day, Chief Operating Officer of VCNI, will take over leadership of the division’s streaming business as President of Streaming and COO of VCNI. In this new role, Day will have oversight of the international roll-out of Paramount+, a new premium SVOD service due to launch in 2021 across Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics; as well as the ongoing expansion of Pluto TV, following its successful launch in Latin America.

Regarding Day’s expanded remit, Lynn added, “We are in the fortunate position of going from strength to strength with this transition. With a truly global streaming organization, it’s a pivotal moment in the evolution of our streaming strategy, with the expansion of Paramount+ and Pluto TV, both of which are critical to our future growth. Kelly has an enviable track record of launching and growing streaming businesses and has added a layer of extraordinary digital expertise to our management team in a short space of time. Now, also, working closely with Tom Ryan, I’m confident Kelly will accelerate our transition to becoming a more digitally-led business, while seizing our global streaming opportunity.”

ViacomCBS International Studios Leadership

ViacomCBS Studios International (VIS) will supply original content to the new Paramount+ service in some markets, while continuing to supply scripted, comedy and reality series to VCNI’s free and pay TV networks as well as third party streamers and broadcasters.

Also, reporting to Lynn, JC Acosta, who oversees VCNI’s operations in Latin America and Canada as President, VCN Americas, will take on additional responsibility as President, ViacomCBS International Studios.

Lynn added, “One of our biggest achievements in recent years has been the formation and expansion of VIS, which really couldn’t have happened without Pier’s vision. In the past year, under Pier’s leadership he doubled the global development slate, setting VCNI up for continued global success in the studios arena.”

“Now with JC’s expertise in production and development, coupled with his drive and dedication its incredibly reassuring that JC will take over leadership of VIS,” said Lynn. “Given JC’s intimate understanding of our Studios business, his connections and his knowledge of the international content market, we couldn’t be better positioned for continued growth.”

Gazzolo’s Tenure

Paying tribute to Gazzolo, Lynn said, “While he will hate to be labelled as a veteran, there’s no better word to describe someone who has dedicated so much of his career to our company and who has benefited it so much with his wisdom and experience. He’s a brilliant all-rounder who has played in many positions for our team, but always with the same outstanding results. It’s typical of Pier’s commitment that he’s stayed to oversee a seamless handover to Kelly and JC, even though he’s been signaling his interest in pursuing his own projects for some time. I can’t thank him enough for his contribution to our business over many years. I know everyone at VCNI will join me in genuinely wishing him well in his future endeavors.”

Gazzolo commented, “I’ve grown up with this amazing company. From MTV Latino, to MTV Networks to Viacom International Media Networks to post merger ViacomCBS Networks International. I’ve been honored to grow and evolve with ViacomCBS, and I’m immensely grateful to have worked across so many regions and divisions at the most dynamic media company in the world. I have benefited tremendously from having worked with unparalleled leaders and mentors, throughout my tenure, but especially in the latest chapter of my term. Most importantly I’ve created wonderful close friendships in my 27 years with the company – and those will continue long after I leave the building.”

About Pierluigi Gazzolo

Prior to taking up his current role as President, Streaming and Studios in November 2019, Pierluigi Gazzolo was President, Americas for Viacom International Media Networks, which was renamed as VCNI after the ViacomCBS merger in December last year.

Based in Miami, he oversaw a marked expansion of the company’s operations across Spanish-speaking Latin America and Brazil, spearheaded by two key acquisitions – ownership of Argentina’s leading free-to-air broadcaster, Telefe (2016), and a majority stake in Brazilian comedy producer, Porta dos Fundos (2017). Combining Telefe’s studios business and Porta dos Fundos with VIMN’s existing production activities in the region, Gazzolo formed VIS and secured its first sales to both Netflix and Amazon Prime, as well as a host of other deals with broadcasters and streamers across the region. Under his leadership, VIS has expanded its production activities in the UK, Europe, and Asia.

At the same time as leading the company’s operations in Latin America, Gazzolo continued to lead Nickelodeon internationally, giving him oversight of this critical brand in all markets outside the U.S. In this role, he oversaw an increase in international supply to Nickelodeon’s global content pipeline with locally developed shows being remade for global distribution, including Talia in the Kitchen and Every Witch Way.

Previously, Gazzolo was Chief Operating Officer for VIMN (2011 to 2014) and its predecessor MTV Networks International (2009 to 2011), reporting in both roles to Bob Bakish, who is now CEO, ViacomCBS Inc. Before 2009, he held several different roles with the company including serving as President of MTV Networks Latin America.

ViacomCBS Networks International:

ViacomCBS Networks International, a unit of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), comprises many of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands, including Network 10, Channel 5, Telefe, Viacom 18, ViacomCBS International Studios, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Network and Pluto TV. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS Networks International provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions for partners on five continents and across more than 180 countries.

VIAC-IR

The above press release is available available to read in the following languages: Deutsch | Português | DutchFrançaise.


Exclusive Interview: Pierluigi Gazzolo on His Long Career at ViacomCBS

After 27 years at a company he calls his family, Pierluigi Gazzolo is leaving ViacomCBS at the end of the month to take a break from a corporate career and look at different paths ahead.

In an exclusive interview with World Screen, Gazzolo, who was appointed president of streaming for international and Viacom International Studios (VIS) at ViacomCBS in November of 2019, said he has spent half his life with the company—starting with MTV Latino, then MTV Networks Latin America with the launch of Nickelodeon, then Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) and, most recently, ViacomCBS. “I’ve grown up with this company; I’ve been blessed with opportunities and promotions,” Gazzolo said, thanking Bob Bakish, the president and CEO of ViacomCBS, and David Lynn, president and CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International. “But it’s time to take a personal reset and think of other entrepreneurial paths.”

Gazzolo had told Lynn and Bakish of his plan before his current role, but they asked him to remain a while longer to help develop ViacomCBS’s international streaming strategy. It involved growing the international presence of the free service, Pluto TV, and developing the subscription product, Paramount+, and expanding on the success of VIS in the Americas by scaling it internationally. Gazzolo said this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Paramount+ is the rebranded CBS All Access service. Internationally, as Gazzolo explained, “It is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2021 in Latin America, Brazil, Australia and the Nordics, in its first phase.” It will premiere premium product, aggregating originals from Showtime, Paramount, CBS, BET, MTV and Comedy Central, as well as library product.

Of the many shows bowing on the service, Gazzolo highlighted Showtime’s drama First Ladies, starring Viola Davis as Michelle Obama; Lioness, a spy drama based on a real CIA program; and The Offer, a scripted limited event series about the making of The Godfather.

Meanwhile, Pluto TV, whose growth Gazzolo described as “massive,” will continue to launch in new territories. It is already in Latin America with 50 channels, in addition to Germany, the U.K. and Spain, and will debut in Brazil in November.

Helping to shape ViacomCBS’s international streaming products is the latest of Gazzolo’s many career accomplishments. He was one of the first in the industry to recognize content’s ability to travel across borders, as he told me during our conversation at NATPE in January when he was awarded the Premio Ícono TV Latina award. “We learned the concept of, make the story you need [for local audiences], but keep it universal.” He also strongly believed in the value of owning content and spearheaded VIMN’s businesses in Latin American to shift from being primarily a network business to a studio business. He led the acquisitions of Telefe and Porta dos Fundos, which were instrumental in setting up Viacom International Studios.

“They were game-changers for us,” Gazzolo said at NATPE. “The intent was always scale. The most important scale we wanted to gain was content scale. Telefe brought us amazing scripted ideas, thousands of hours produced, that we could now monetize. Porta dos Fundos is an incredible creator of comedic content. They had a very powerful position on YouTube. Now it has gone from a short-form producer to a long-form comedy powerhouse. Without those acquisitions, I don’t think we would have had Viacom International Studios.”

Viacom International Studios then expanded into the U.K. and Spain, with further growth planned.

Gazzolo also believed in reaching consumers with multiple offers, from free TV to premium pay services.

During our exclusive interview, he repeated more than once how much he will miss his family at ViacomCBS. Undoubtedly, the feeling among staffers and management is mutual.

###

From TV LATINA:

Pierluigi Gazzolo dejará ViacomCBS

Luego de 27 años en una compañía que llamó su familia, Pierluigi Gazzolo estará dejando ViacomCBS a finales de mes para tomar un descanso de su carrera corporativa y visualizar diferentes caminos de cara al futuro.

En una entrevista exclusiva con World Screen, Gazzolo, quien fue nombrado presidente de streaming para internacional y Viacom International Studios (VIS) de ViacomCBS en noviembre de 2019, comentó que ha pasado la mitad de su vida con la compañía, comenzando con MTV Latino, luego MTV Networks Latin America con el lanzamiento de Nickelodeon, posteriormente Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) y recientemente ViacomCBS. “Crecí con esta compañía, he sido bendecido con oportunidades y promociones”, señaló Gazzolo, además de agradecer a Bob Bakish, presidente y CEO de ViacomCBS; y David Lynn, presidente y CEO de ViacomCBS Networks International. “Pero es tiempo de hacer un reinicio personal y pensar en otros emprendimientos”.

Gazzolo le comentó a Lynn y Bakish de su plan antes de su rol actual, pero le pidieron que permaneciera por un tiempo adicional para ayudar a desarrollar la estrategia de streaming internacional de ViacomCBS. Tenía que ver con expandir la presencia internacional del servicio gratuito, Pluto TV, desarrollar el producto de suscripción, Paramount+, y expandir el éxito de VIS en las Américas con escala internacional. Gazzolo dijo que esto era una oportunidad que no podía dejar pasar.

Paramount+ es el servicio renombrado de CBS All Access. A nivel internacional, tal como explicó Gazzolo, “tiene programado lanzarse en la primera mitad de 2021 en Latinoamérica, Brasil, Australia y la región nórdica, en su primera fase”. El servicio presentará producto premium agregando originales de Showtime, Paramount, CBS, BET, MTV y Comedy Central, así como producto de librería.

De los numerosos shows que debutan en el servicio, Gazzolo destacó First Ladies, drama de Showtime protagonizado por Viola Davis como Michelle Obama; Lioness, un drama de espionaje basado en un programa real de la CIA; y The Offer, una serie limitada con guion sobre la realización de The Godfather.

Entre tanto, Pluto TV, cuyo crecimiento Gazzolo describió como “masivo”, continuará lanzándose en nuevos territorios. El servicio ya existe en América Latina con 50 canales, además de Alemania, el Reino Unido, España y debutará en Brasil en noviembre.

Ayudar a formar los productos de streaming internacional de ViacomCBS es el más reciente de los logros en la carrera de Gazzolo. Fue uno de los primeros en la industria de reconocer la capacidad que tenía el contenido de cruzar fronteras, tal como me comentó durante nuestra conversación en NATPE en enero cuando fue galardonado con el TV Latina Premio Ícono. “Aprendimos el concepto de realizar la historia para [las audiencias locales], pero mantenerlo universal”. El ejecutivo también creyó firmemente en el valor de ser propietarios del contenido y encabezó los negocios de VIMN en Latinoamérica, para transicionar de ser principalmente un negocio de cadenas a un negocio de estudio. Lideró las adquisiciones de Telefe y Porta dos Fundos, las cuales fueron fundamentales en el establecimiento de Viacom International Studios.

“Fueron cambios innovadores para nosotros”, afirmó Gazzolo en NATPE. “La intención siempre fue la escala. La más importante que queríamos lograr era el contenido de escala. Telefe nos ofreció increíbles ideas de contenido con guion y miles de horas producidas que podíamos monetizar. Porta dos Fundos es un creador increíble de comedia. Tenía una posición muy poderosa en YouTube. Ahora ha pasado de ser un productor de contenido corto a una potencia de comedia de formato largo. Sin esas adquisiciones, no creo que hubiéramos tenido a Viacom International Studios”.

Viacom International Studios luego se expandió al Reino Unido y España, con planes para un mayor crecimiento.

Gazzolo también creyó en llegar a los consumidores con múltiples ofertas, desde televisión abierta hasta servicios pagos premium.

Durante nuestra entrevista exclusiva, en más de una ocasión repitió cuánto extrañará a su familia en ViacomCBS. Sin duda, el sentimiento entre el equipo y la gerencia es mutuo.

###


Originally published: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 19:53 BST.

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ViacomCBS Announces Leadership of Global Streaming Organization

ViacomCBS Announces Leadership of Global Streaming Organization

Positions company to seize global opportunity in streaming through integrated strategy and structure across free and pay platforms

Strengthens cross-house content and franchise collaboration across ViacomCBS streaming ecosystem ahead of Paramount+ launch in early 2021

Tom Ryan named President and CEO, ViacomCBS Streaming; Kelly Day, COO, ViacomCBS Networks International, to assume additional role of President of Streaming, ViacomCBS Networks International


NEW YORK--OCTOBER 20, 2020--ViacomCBS (Nasdaq: VIAC, VIACA) today announced a new leadership structure for its global ecosystem of free and pay streaming services. The integrated structure, which is effective immediately, will ensure a more holistic approach across both free and pay streaming, more closely align the company’s streaming initiatives globally, and enhance ViacomCBS’s ability to leverage the cross-house franchise and content strength of ViacomCBS to seize the global opportunity in streaming.

Tom Ryan, currently CEO of Pluto TV, will assume the role of President and CEO, ViacomCBS Streaming, overseeing CBS All Access, which will relaunch as Paramount+ in early 2021, and Pluto TV. In this expanded role, he will have global oversight of the company’s streaming strategy. Marc DeBevoise will step down from his role as Chief Digital Officer, ViacomCBS, and President and CEO, ViacomCBS Digital, serving in an advisory capacity for the remainder of 2020 to support a seamless transition and the ongoing transformation of the digital organization.

As President and CEO, ViacomCBS Streaming, Ryan will lead ViacomCBS’s efforts to further accelerate the growth of its free and pay streaming services, building on his success establishing Pluto TV as the #1 free ad-supported streaming TV service in the U.S. and a growing global force. He will now also oversee the transformation of CBS All Access into Paramount+, working closely with the team on programming strategy, platform development and marketing for the enhanced streaming service. In his new capacity, Ryan will partner with the ViacomCBS Content Council to accelerate a franchise-driven content strategy across the company’s streaming ecosystem, formalizing the role of ViacomCBS’s studios as multiplatform content providers. This will maximize the deployment of both IP and talent relationships across ViacomCBS’s streaming and other platforms.


Kelly Day, COO, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), will take on an expanded role as President of Streaming, VCNI, overseeing all ex-U.S. digital and streaming platforms in addition to her COO responsibilities. She will work closely with Ryan and David Lynn, President and CEO of VCNI, on ViacomCBS’s international streaming expansion, including the debut of Paramount+ in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics in 2021, as well as the ongoing international rollout of Pluto TV. As previously planned, Pierluigi Gazzolo will step down from his position as President, Streaming and Studios, VCNI, to pursue other interests.

“ViacomCBS has a unique opportunity to combine the best of our brands in a seamless ecosystem of must-watch, direct-to-consumer services for audiences around the world,” said Bob Bakish, President and CEO, ViacomCBS. “As we plan for the launch of Paramount+, bringing together the leaders of our streaming platforms to create a unified global organization will enable us to execute a holistic strategy across both free and pay. We will draw on the breadth and depth of ViacomCBS’s franchises and branded IP to deliver an extraordinary collection of diverse content with the convenience consumers want.”

Bakish continued, “Tom is a pioneering streaming executive who has demonstrated extraordinary talent in creating a differentiated, consumer-centric service that resonates with global audiences. He will bring this same digital expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and strategic, collaborative mindset as we deliver the very best of ViacomCBS to Paramount+ and our portfolio of streaming platforms. I’m thrilled to work with him, Kelly and the team to unify, strengthen and scale our industry-leading digital offering.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to work with this talented team and build on their momentum, especially as we approach the launch of Paramount+,” said Ryan. “Together, we will leverage ViacomCBS’s beloved portfolio of brands, strong content pipeline and extensive network of partners to deliver must-watch on-demand, live and exclusive original programming to viewers everywhere.”

Bakish added, “I’m grateful to Marc for his many contributions to ViacomCBS’s success. Over the course of his tenure with CBS and then ViacomCBS, he has set the course for our digital businesses and laid a strong foundation for us to build on as we prepare for the next phase of our streaming strategy.”

Of Gazzolo, Bakish commented, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pier for many years. He has played a pivotal role in ViacomCBS’s international growth, launching our international studio production business, establishing us as a key OTT player abroad and, more recently, shepherding the successful global rollout of Pluto TV.”

Ryan has served as CEO and Co-Founder of Pluto TV since early 2014. Under his leadership, Pluto TV has become the leading free, ad-supported streaming TV service in the U.S. and rapidly grown its presence in international markets, reaching 33 million monthly active users globally. He also led Pluto TV through its acquisition by Viacom in January 2019. Earlier in his career, Ryan served as CEO of Threadless, an online art community and e-commerce company, from 2008 to 2012. Previously he was Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at EMI Music and was part of the early team at Virgin Mobile USA. He also co-founded Cductive, a pioneering online music service that merged with eMusic in 1999.

Day has served as COO of VCNI since March 2020. Prior to that, she served as President of Viacom Digital Studios (VDS) since November 2017, overseeing Viacom’s digital strategy, including the expansion of Viacom’s original programming across its leading online video and social media platforms. Under her leadership, VDS created and distributed thousands of hours in premium digital content across Viacom’s global entertainment brands, leading the company to reach new heights in audience engagement – becoming #1 for quality social views among media and entertainment properties, based on Tubular ratings. She previously served as the Chief Business Officer and Chief Digital Officer of multi-platform media company Awesomeness, where she was responsible for international expansion, global distribution strategies and revenue across television, mobile and OTT providers, also driving the company’s product and technology investments.

As ViacomCBS’s Chief Digital Officer and President & CEO of ViacomCBS Digital, DeBevoise led the company’s rapidly growing digital and streaming businesses to become a major player in direct-to-consumer streaming, a top 5 overall U.S. Internet company with more than 200 million monthly users and one of the largest social video companies with more than 9 billion monthly views. DeBevoise spearheaded the integration of CBS and Viacom’s digital and technology strategies and operations across its broad range of digital properties and managed its partnerships with major digital video, social and technology platforms. Since joining CBS Interactive (now part of ViacomCBS Digital) in 2011, DeBevoise led its portfolio of digital properties and was the architect of CBS’ digital strategy to become a leading multi-platform content company and a leader in direct-to-consumer streaming with the founding of live and on-demand streaming services CBS All Access (soon to be Paramount+), CBSN, CBS Sports HQ and ET Live. This included developing teams creating 24/7 news content, licensing and producing major sports content including the UEFA Champions League, and creating a broad array of original series, such as STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, THE GOOD FIGHT, THE STAND and THE TWILIGHT ZONE, among others. Previously, DeBevoise served as President and COO of CBS Interactive since 2016 and prior to that in other executive roles at the company.

Prior to serving as President of Streaming and Studios, VCNI, Gazzolo was President of VCN Americas where he oversaw the expansion of the company’s operations across Latin America and Canada, spearheading the acquisitions of Telefe and Porta dos Fundos, which enabled the creation of ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS). Under Gazzolo’ s leadership, VIS secured sales to a multitude of third parties including Netflix and Amazon Prime as well as streamers and broadcasters around the world. As President of VCN Americas, Gazzolo also led Nickelodeon internationally. With ViacomCBS in its various iterations over the course of his 28 years with the company, Gazzolo also served as Chief Operating Officer under Bob Bakish from 2009 – 2014 in what was first MTV Networks International and then Viacom International Media Networks.

About ViacomCBS

ViacomCBS (Nasdaq: VIAC; VIACA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, CBS All Access, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions for partners on five continents. For more information about ViacomCBS, please visit www.viacomcbs .com and follow @ViacomCBS on social platforms.

VIAC-IR

From Wrap Pro:

ViacomCBS Streaming Shakeup: Tom Ryan Takes Over, Marc DeBevoise Steps Down

Kelly Day and JC Acosta expand roles internationally as Pierluigi Gazzolo departs

ViacomCBS is going through a major shakeup in its streaming operations — and we’re not just referring to CBS All Access rebranding as Paramount+.

For starters, Pluto TV CEO Tom Ryan will take on the role of president and CEO, ViacomCBS Streaming. He’ll oversee All Acces/Paramount+ as well as Pluto TV.

Marc DeBevoise is stepping down as ViacomCBS chief digital officer and president and CEO of ViacomCBS Digital. He’ll shift to an advisory role for the remainder of 2020.

Additionally, Kelly Day, the COO of ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), will take on an expanded role as president of streaming, VCNI. Pierluigi Gazzolo is stepping down from his position as president of VCNI streaming and studios.

Plus, JC Acosta has been named president of ViacomCBS International Studios.

Last month, ViacomCBS revealed that CBS All Access will be called Paramount+ beginning early next year.

The rebranding is the second, and much bigger, phase of the two-phase expansion of CBS All Access, which first launched in 2014 and was among the earliest entrants in the streaming space. In July, All Access added more than 3,500 episodes from Viacom networks BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Smithsonian Channel, along with a smaller redesign that incorporates hubs for the Viacom networks.

In the weeks since the July addition of content, ViacomCBS said that All Access broke a new record for total monthly streams in August and experienced one of its best months ever in terms of new subscriber sign-ups (though revealed no actual numbers). In addition, the average age of new subscribers in August was measurably younger than the service’s overall average subscriber age, due in large part to the addition of UEFA and the newly added content from various ViacomCBS brands.

Also Read: Bob Bakish Explains Why ViacomCBS Chose Paramount+ Name for Rebranded Streaming Service

Separate from the upcoming CBS All Access rebrand in the United States, ViacomCBS is launching an international streaming service in early 2021. All new Showtime series, including the much-anticipated “Halo” adaptation and the upcoming “American Rust,” will debut first on the currently unnamed SVOD (subscriber video on demand) platform, which will first go live in Australia, Latin America, and Nordic countries.

The new international service, which will have content for all ages, will require a paid subscription.

“ViacomCBS has a unique opportunity to combine the best of our brands in a seamless ecosystem of must-watch, direct-to-consumer services for audiences around the world,” ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish said in a statement Tuesday. “As we plan for the launch of Paramount+, bringing together the leaders of our streaming platforms to create a unified global organization will enable us to execute a holistic strategy across both free and pay. We will draw on the breadth and depth of ViacomCBS’s franchises and branded IP to deliver an extraordinary collection of diverse content with the convenience consumers want.”

Bakish continued, “Tom is a pioneering streaming executive who has demonstrated extraordinary talent in creating a differentiated, consumer-centric service that resonates with global audiences. He will bring this same digital expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and strategic, collaborative mindset as we deliver the very best of ViacomCBS to Paramount+ and our portfolio of streaming platforms.”

Also Read: 11 New Fall TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers, From 'Supermarket Sweep' to 'Weakest Link' (Photos)

“I couldn’t be more excited to work with this talented team and build on their momentum, especially as we approach the launch of Paramount+,” Ryan said. “Together, we will leverage ViacomCBS’s beloved portfolio of brands, strong content pipeline and extensive network of partners to deliver must-watch on-demand, live and exclusive original programming to viewers everywhere.”

Bakish added, “I’m grateful to Marc for his many contributions to ViacomCBS’s success. Over the course of his tenure with CBS and then ViacomCBS, he has set the course for our digital businesses and laid a strong foundation for us to build on as we prepare for the next phase of our streaming strategy.”

Of Gazzolo, Bakish commented, “He has played a pivotal role in ViacomCBS’s international growth, launching our international studio production business, establishing us as a key OTT player abroad and, more recently, shepherding the successful global rollout of Pluto TV.”

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From Variety:

ViacomCBS Streaming Shake-Up: Pluto TV’s Tom Ryan to Head New Global Division, Marc DeBevoise Steps Down

Pierluigi Gazzolo to leave ViacomCBS Networks International

ViacomCBS has restructured its streaming operations with a global lens: Tom Ryan, currently CEO of Pluto TV, will assume the role of president and CEO of the newly created ViacomCBS Streaming, overseeing CBS All Access, which will relaunch as Paramount Plus in early 2021, as well as Pluto TV.

Marc DeBevoise will step down from his roles as ViacomCBS’s chief digital officer and president-CEO of ViacomCBS Digital. DeBevoise will serve in an advisory capacity through the end of 2020.

The changes are effective immediately. The media conglomerate said the integrated structure will “ensure a more holistic approach across both free and pay streaming,” as well as more closely align the company’s streaming initiatives globally and enhance its ability to “leverage the cross-house franchise and content strength of ViacomCBS to seize the global opportunity in streaming.”

The ViacomCBS reshuffling comes after Disney, NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia have similarly moved to restructure their organizations with the aim of accelerating direct-to-consumer streaming strategies.

ViacomCBS also announced that Pierluigi Gazzolo will step down from his position as president, streaming and studios, at ViacomCBS Networks International “to pursue other interests.”

Kelly Day, VCNI’s COO, will assume an expanded role as president of streaming for VCNI, overseeing all non-U.S. digital and streaming platforms. She will work with Ryan and David Lynn, president and CEO of VCNI, on ViacomCBS’s international streaming expansion, including on the planned rollout of Paramount Plus in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics in 2021, as well as the ongoing international rollout of Pluto TV.

In addition, JC Acosta, who oversees VCNI’s operations in Latin America and Canada as president, VCN Americas, is assuming additional responsibility as president of ViacomCBS International Studios. Acosta reports to Lynn.

“ViacomCBS has a unique opportunity to combine the best of our brands in a seamless ecosystem of must-watch, direct-to-consumer services for audiences around the world,” Bob Bakish, president and CEO of ViacomCBS, said in announcing the changes. “As we plan for the launch of Paramount Plus, bringing together the leaders of our streaming platforms to create a unified global organization will enable us to execute a holistic strategy across both free and pay.”

As president and CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, Ryan will lead the company’s streaming businesses worldwide. He will now also oversee the rebranding of CBS All Access into Paramount Plus, working in concert with the ViacomCBS Content Council to develop a franchise-driven content strategy across the company’s streaming platforms.

The restructuring, according to the company, formally makes ViacomCBS’s studios “multiplatform content providers.”

With DeBevoise’s departure, the CBS Interactive group is being dissolved. Last month, ViacomCBS inked a deal to sell CNET Media Group — which has been a major component of the CBSi business — for $500 million to Red Ventures. According to a source familiar with the company, ViacomCBS CTO Phil Wiser, who previously reported to DeBevoise, will now report to CFO Naveen Chopra, who joined the company this summer from Amazon where he served as CFO of Amazon’s devices and services business.

Ryan in 2013 co-founded Pluto TV, which offers free-to-watch, ad-supported live video channels and on-demand content. Viacom, prior to its merger with CBS, bought Pluto TV in 2019 for $340 million. Under Ryan’s leadership, Pluto TV has grown to reach 33 million monthly active users globally. Earlier in his career, Ryan was CEO of Threadless, an online art community and e-commerce company, from 2008-12. Previously he was a senior exec at EMI Music and was part of the early team at Virgin Mobile USA. He also co-founded Cductive, an online music service that merged with eMusic in 1999.

Day has served as COO of VCNI since March 2020. Prior to that, she was president of Viacom Digital Studios (VDS) since November 2017, after serving as chief business officer and chief digital officer of youth-skewing digital media company Awesomeness (which Viacom ended up buying in mid-2018).

DeBevoise joined CBS Interactive (now part of ViacomCBS Digital) in 2011, and has led its portfolio of digital properties as president/COO in 2016. He led the development and launch of the CBS All Access subscription service (soon to be Paramount Plus), as well as free-streaming services CBSN, CBS Sports HQ and ET Live.

Gazzolo, prior to serving as VCNI’s president of streaming and studios, was president of VCN Americas where he oversaw the expansion of the company’s operations across Latin America and Canada and also led Nickelodeon internationally. With ViacomCBS in its various iterations over the course of his 28 years with the company, Gazzolo also served as COO under Bakish from 2009-14 in what was first MTV Networks International and then Viacom International Media Networks.

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Originally published: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 19:41 BST.


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