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Republication of LEGO Company press release of Apr 12, 2000:
http://www.lego.com/info/press.asp
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LEGO Media launches new global TV production arm
Mark Livingstone, MD of LEGO Media International, today announced the formation
of a new division dedicated to the production of high quality children’s and
family programming for television, film and Internet.
The new business, a global operation with its main bases in London and Los
Angeles, initially intends to develop and invest in new intellectual properties
through strategic alliances with leading programme-makers, distributors and
broadcasters in the film and TV industry. In the longer term, the production arm
will develop its own projects for multi-platform
broadcast.
Heading up the new initiative in Europe and Asia is Conny Kalcher, Vice
President of Children’s & Family Programming, Europe and Asia, who takes on the
brief in addition to her current responsibilities for LEGO Media’s global print
media and IP development.
Vanessa Chapman, former Controller of Children’s & Family Programming for the
ITV Network, has been appointed Controller of European & Asian Programming &
Strategy for LEGO Media.
While at ITV, Vanessa commissioned more than 700 hours of children’s and young
people’s programming a year, and also negotiated numerous output deals with all
the major US studios.
For the past two years, Vanessa has run a successful media strategy business,
working across all genres of programming for TV and the Internet. Her clients
have included major global, financial and media corporations, advertising
agencies and publishers, as well as leading world brands like LEGO, for whom she
has worked for the past nine months on developing programming strategy. She was
a director of the Second World Summit On Television For Children, and
represented the UK on the EBU’s working party on children’s programming.
At LEGO Media, Vanessa is joined by Michael Carrington, who becomes Head of
Acquisitions & Co-Productions. Michael moves to LEGO’s new division from the
BBC’s Children’s Department, where he was Deputy Head of Programme Acquisition &
Animation. His credits include Dennis The Menace, The Silver Brumby, Romuald The
Reindeer and Ethelbert The Tiger. He was also involved in the creative strategy
for the BBC’s new digital children’s channel and the launch of CBBC on BBC
Choice.
Meanwhile, Kathrin Seitz, who was formerly Vice President, Movies at
Nickelodeon, will head up the US division as Vice President of Children’s
Programming, Americas.
After starting her production career at ABC Entertainment, CBS Theatrical Films
and Rastar, Kathrin spent nine years at Nickelodeon, including a spell as
Supervising Producer of Nicktoons, where she was responsible for Rugrats, Hey
Arnold, Real Monsters, Aahhh!! and Angry Beavers.
In her capacity as VP, Nickelodeon Movies, she set up the company’s Paramount
office and was the creative executive in charge of The Rugrats Movie, which
enjoyed both critical and commercial success. Forming Seitz Media in 1999,
Kathrin has worked most recently as a consultant, manager and executive
producer on Discovery Kids.
This year, LEGO Media Production intends to develop or invest in a wide range of
different projects, including entertainment shows, animation, factual programmes
and live action. The first programmes are scheduled to be available for
transmission in 2001/2.
Media Contacts:
LEGO Company:
Eva Lykkegaard
Global Information & Public Relations
00 45 79 50 74 24
eva.lykkegaard@europe.lego.com
Carol Millward (for LEGO Media)
0044 (0)20 8940 5657
0044 (0)370 444995
© 2000 LEGO Company
TM and ® indicate trademarks of the LEGO Company
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