Kidscreen Summit Reveals Keynote Speaker
YouTube’s Head of Family/EDU Malik Ducard will open Kidscreen Summit 2015 with a keynote entitled Press Play on Fun.
Online and mobile video viewing rates continue to skyrocket everywhere, and YouTube is home to millions of families worldwide seeking out content that entertains, educates, and inspires their children. With parent company Google currently revamping several of its products for kids 12 and under, YouTube’s Ducard will talk about new opportunities for producers to engage families.
The Kidscreen Summit 2015 will be held February 23–26 at the Miami InterContinental in Miami, FL.
Last year, Kidscreen Summit welcomed nearly 1,700 attendees from 47 countries around the world including close to 450 kids TV buyers and investors. This year’s event will continue to cover important issues and trends in the fast-moving international kids entertainment industry, generate business and revenue opportunities, and offer networking opportunities with leading decision-makers.
Endemol Shine Group Begins Operations
The previously announced joint venture that brings together Endemol, Shine, and CORE Media has officially launched. The new business will initially operate under the name Endemol Shine Group and senior group team appointments and combined distribution operation are also in place.
The newly minted global entertainment group will manage a portfolio of properties that includes Masterchef, American Idol, Big Brother, Broadchurch, The Money Drop, Peaky Blinders, Grantchester, Deal or No Deal, Wipeout, The Biggest Loser, Black Mirror, Mr. Bean, So You Think You Can Dance, One Born Every Minute, The Fall, Man vs. Food, and more.
21st Century Fox and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC will jointly manage Endemol Shine Group, with each owning 50 percent. CORE Media will continue to retain its own capital structure within the new joint venture.
Endemol Shine Group’s businesses will have creative operations in more than 30 markets, with a diverse portfolio of more than 600 revenue generating formats across scripted and non-scripted genres, coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations.
Sophie Turner Laing, former BSkyB managing director of content, will serve as CEO and Endemol’s Tim Hincks as president, while Endemol’s Chief Financial Officer Edwin van Es will take up the same role within the new group. Shine’s Finance Director Tom Fussell will work with Van Es on transitioning Endemol’s and Shine’s finance functions before stepping down during the course of 2015. In addition, multiple senior team appointments were made at the group level, charged with supporting Endemol Shine Group’s operations worldwide.
Appointments include Boudewijn Beusmans as group commercial officer, Gary Carter and Martha Brass as co-CEOs of international operations, and Patrick Keegan and Charlie Gardner as co-directors of marketing and communications.
Endemol Shine Group also confirmed its international sales and distribution structure with Shine International and Endemol Worldwide Distribution are joining forces as one business. Cathy Payne, current CEO of Endemol Worldwide Distribution, will serve as CEO, while Shine International CEO Nadine Nohr will work with Payne to bring the two distribution businesses together before stepping down.
The new joint venture will begin formal operations as Endemol Shine Group on January 1, 2015. It will continue the process of integrating its operations around the world throughout the first half of 2015 when further announcements will follow.