Genius Brands ups Disney alum to oversee new network division

Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten

US-based kids content company Genius Brands International has consolidated its portfolio of kids-focused channels under the newly created Genius Networks and promoted Todd Steinman to head up the new unit.

Kartoon Channel!, Frederator Network and Ameba TV will now fall under the Genius Networks banner, with Steinman serving as president.

Todd Steinman

The exec joined Genius Brands last year as chief revenue & marketing officer for Kartoon Channel! and prior to that served as VP in the DTC division at The Walt Disney Company. In that role, Steinman worked to leverage Disney’s portfolio of network brands, while setting strategy for revenue teams.

Previously, Steinman co-founded the digital media agency, M80, which provided digital media strategy, social media management and analytics to Fortune 500 companies.

“Consolidating our consumer platforms under Todd’s proven leadership, gives us the ability to grow our brands globally, increase revenue and maximize profits more quickly, as he has done in his previous roles with the Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers and WPP.” explained Genius Brands’ Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward.

Genius Brands, which is behind titles such as Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten and Llama Llama, launched Kartoon Channel! in 2020 and in late 2021 acquired both German kids company Your Family Entertainment and Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media, which brought Frederator Network to the group. Around the same time, Genius hired former MD of Disney Television International and SVP of Disney Channel Worldwide Paul Robinson as MD of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide to oversee its global expansion.

More recently, Genius struck a deal with Toho International, which took a 50% stake in two original productions from Frederator Network.