Broadcast Hot Shots Talks To Past And Present Nickelodeon Staff

From Broadcast:

Hot Shots alumni: one year on

Last year’s Broadcast Hot Shots talk to Robin Parker about the impact appearing in the supplement has had on their careers.

What does it mean to be a Broadcast Hot Shot? Each year, Broadcast selects around 50 rising stars from the industry, all under 30, and profiles them in a photoshoot that is waved under the noses of anyone who’s anyone at the Edinburgh TV Festival. As we gear up for this year’s special, we caught up with some of last year’s stars.

What’s clear is that Hot Shots is taken seriously by industry talent-spotters. Many of those we spoke to have been given more responsibility, promoted or poached by rival companies.

BETHAN BARKER

Then Assistant brand manager, Nickelodeon
Now Social media manager, The Mill

“Hot Shots had an absolutely giant impact on my career from the moment it hit the stands, one that I could never have predicted. My LinkedIn profile and inbox took a hammering from really interesting approaches and people, and a month later, I was promoted at Nickelodeon.

“I then began looking for a role that would let me focus more on social media, as that seemed to be what most people who contacted me were interested in. In June, I moved into a newly created role as social media manager at The Mill, working across the entire group.

“It really was the career boost and profile raiser that I needed at that stage in my career and it’s difficult to comprehend how far I’ve come just a year later.”

[...]

LUKE WHITE

Then Music editor, MTV UK
Now International digital programming executive, Viacom International Media Networks

“After Hot Shots was published, I moved from MTV UK to the Viacom International digital team in New York and now look after international download-to-own and video-on-demand programming for MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.

“It’s fair to say that transferring international staff to positions in the UK is no easy process. Unique recognition such as Hot Shots plays an important role in the business justification.”

[...]

Hot Shots 2012

This year’s Broadcast Hot Shots will be unveiled in a special photo supplement in the 24 August issue.

MTV UK To Launch VoD Portals For Key Shows, Including For The Popular Animated Original Nickelodeon Series "SpongeBob SquarePants"

From Broadcast:

MTV to launch VoD portals for key shows

MTV is to create subscription video-on-demand portals dedicated to key shows such as Spongebob Squarepants as its MTV OD portal moves into a full launch.

The broadcaster will follow this week's launch of a South Park on-demand subscription service with further dedicated portals, with kids' TV earmarked as one area in which developments are likely.

Viacom International senior vice president of digital Philip O'Ferrall said launching subscription VoD offerings alongside existing download-to-own opportunities via stores such as iTunes had not cannibalised sales or had a negative impact on linear viewing.

“It makes sense for our iconic brands to have standalone VoD services. We have shows with more than 10 million fans across social media and we should be providing them with a dedicated experience,” he said.

O’Ferrall added that the international rollout of Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants multiplayer game demonstrated the broadcaster's appetite for bespoke products around the brand.

Viacom will also extend the reach of its VoD portals onto tablets this year. “The success of the MTV News app has clearly shown people want to watch video on tablet devices,” he said.

Connected-TV developments are also on the roadmap.

The move comes as the MTV OD portal, which soft-launched 15 months ago, goes into full launch.

It offers visitors streamed access to MTV's catch-up service and archive of shows for £2 a day, or £3 a week, and recorded 250,000 paid-for views in its first six months.

It will now be heavily promoted on air for the first time and integrated more closely with the MTV website, search and social media presence.