Who to meet in Cannes: Katie O’Connell Marsh, Platform One Media

Name: Katie O’Connell Marsh; Company: Platform One Media

Liberty Global’s push into original content has been one of the more notable narratives in international scripted circles in the past year. Having first entered the original content market through a 50% stake in All3Media, it has now partnered with Texas-based TPG Growth to launch LA-based studio Platform One Media.

Former Gaumont television chief Katie O’Connell Marsh has been drafted in to run the business, which also comprises executives such as her ex-colleagues Erik Pack and Elisa Ellis; and a number of executives from the TPG-backed Slingshot Global Media, which has been acquired and absorbed into the Platform One business.

“Market conditions have changed since I came up with the business plan to launch Gaumont’s TV business,” says O’Connell Marsh, “but the core business is the same: international series that have global appeal.”

At MIPCOM, Platform One will be in town to find intellectual property, coproduction partners and third party content (the firm will also be an independent distributor) that both have that international appeal and can also be monetised in new ways.

O’Connell Marsh – who brought Narcos to Netflix and executive produced the Pablo Escobar drama – says she is looking for drama, comedy, limited series and acquisitions to create “a broad slate that is not deep bench”.

Tonally, Platform One is after content that is either “escapist, ‘PG TV’ or confrontational projects”.

“We really want a slate of content that plays across the board,” adds O’Connell Marsh.