Brian Robbins

Ex-AwesomenessTV chief joins Paramount

AwesomenessTV founder Brian Robbins as joined Paramount Pictures to lead a new youth-skewed division. Robbins will run Paramount Players, which will be devoted to producing films derived from the Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and BET brands. The move is the first major deal for Paramount since Fox veteran Jim Gianopulos became its chairman and CEO. […]

Robbins exits AwesomenessTV

Brian Robbins is leaving AwesomenessTV, the kids-focused multichannel network he founded five years ago. Robbins co-created AwesomenessTV with Joe Davola in 2012, and together they turned the business into the pre-eminent MCN for children and teenagers, ultimately selling up to DreamWorks Animation. With DreamWorks in turn selling to Comcast for US$3.8 billion, and the joint […]

ITV, AwesomenessTV create UK block

Details of the upcoming AwesomenessTV-themed block coming to UK digital terrestrial channel ITV2 have been revealed. 2Awesome is the name of the programming block first touted when broadcaster ITV and youth-skewed digital producer and network Awesomeness joined forces to distribute programming in the UK in July. The pact marks one of the most significant partnerships […]

ITV, AwesomenessTV create UK pact

UK broadcaster ITV and kids-focused YouTube channel operator AwesomenessTV have entered into a two-year content agreement. This will see AwesomenessTV shows debuting exclusively in the UK on digital terrestrial ITV2 and on-demand platform ITV Hub, which is getting exclusive programming for the first time. Included is a new extended weekend programme for ITV2 in early […]

Verizon buys Awesomeness stake, preps TVOD net

US telco Verizon has bought a quarter of AwesomenessTV in a deal valuing the multichannel network at US$650 million. The agreement, which is subject to approval, will leave DreamWorks Animation with 51% of the firm, and Verizon and Hearst Corp. both with 24.5%. Further to that, Verizon plans to create a premium, short-form mobile video […]

YouTube, Seibert set for Junior@MIPTV

The second Junior@MIPTV event on Tuesday, April 14, will feature YouTube’s global head of family and learning and animation veteran Fred Seibert. Malik Ducard, who is overseeing the launch of the YouTube Kids app, will appear at the event’s Future of Kids TV Summit. Seibert, the last president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons will also appear alongside […]

The Royals – Lionsgate’s regal ambition

E! is best-known for its glossy entertainment programming and awards show coverage, but like many US cable channels has now taken the leap into drama, ordering its first series, The Royals. Shot in London, the show stars Elizabeth Hurley as Queen Helena, the head of a fictional British Royal family. Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill) […]

DreamWorks launches YouTube channel

Hollywood and family content studio DreamWorks has launched DreamWorksTV, a new YouTube channel programmed with original short-form live-action and animated shows. Brian Robbins will run the new channel having attracted significant volumes of viewers to his teen-skewed YouTube channel AwesomenessTV, which was acquired by DreamWorks last year. As well as the original short-form series there […]

Liz Hurley British Royal family show is E!’s first scripted original

US pop culture channel E! Entertainment has ordered an original drama starring Elizabeth Hurley as the queen of a fictional British Royal family. The Royals is a one-hour drama set for premiere in 2015 and represents NBCUniversal-owned E!’s first scripted effort. Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill) is executive producer, writer and director of the show, […]

DreamWorks into TV: Awesome and Classic

In diversifying away from movies, DreamWorks has made two key acquisitions, the multimillion dollar deal for digital producer and channel manager AwesomenessTV and US$155 million acquisition of Classic Media. AwesomenessTV founder Brian Robbins tells Stewart Clarke about becoming part of DreamWorks Brian Robbins’ career has taken a different trajectory to that of many media executives. […]

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