Blue Ant Media recently promoted various executives in an effort to expand its commissioning capacity across the company’s global channel business.“As we grow Blue Ant Media’s channel footprint around the world, scaling our original content line-up is critical to ensure we’re delivering brands that are that are both unique and internationally relevant,”said Jamie Schouela, President, Global Media.“Our expanded global commissioning team will focus on creating original series and docs across our key content categories while working with co-production partners to meet their needs."
The promotions include Love Nature’s Global General Manager, Carlyn Staudt, who has been promoted to an expanded role as General Manager, Love Nature and Head of Commissioning, Global Media. In this newly created position, she will continue her work heading up the wildlife and nature brand’s strategic direction and operations globally, while now overseeing all commissioning for Blue Ant Media’s free-streaming and linear channels in the U.S., Canada and internationally. Staudt is also tasked with developing and envisioning new content slates for each of these media brands and identifying co-production opportunities for each. She will also continue to work from Blue Ant Media’s Washington, DC office, reporting to Jamie Schouela, President, Global Channels and Media.
As part of these changes, Julie Chang has been promoted to EVP, Business Strategy and Co-productions, Global Media. Julie will oversee commercial deal negotiation and strategic co-production opportunities for Global Media’s original content slate. Further, Julie will be focused on overseeing all business-related operations such as production management that supports the editorial commissioning process. Sam Linton has been promoted to VP, Production and Development, Global Media. Sam will serve as the main point of contact for production companies as they develop and produce high quality content for Blue Ant’s Canadian Networks and growing global streaming brands. She will provide creative leadership and be responsible for the editorial execution from development through production for Global Media’s slate of original programming. Alison Barrat will continue in her role as SVP, Production and Development, Love Nature. Julie, Sam and Alison all report to Carlyn Staudt, General Manager, Love Nature and Head of Commissioning, Global Media.
James Manfull has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, Love Nature. In this new role, Manfull will report to Alison Barrat, SVP, Production and Development, Love Nature. As part of Love Nature’s expansion, Katie Bauer Murdock has joined the wildlife and nature brand as Executive Producer, reporting to Alison Barrat. The promotions and hires follow a year filled with significant growth in the free-streaming arena for Blue Ant Media, which has expanded its reach of Love Nature across 12 FAST platforms in the U.S. and has launched four additional global FAST channels, HauntTV, Homeful, Total Crime and HistoryTime.
As we grow Blue Ant Media’s channel footprint around the world, scaling our original content line-up is critical to ensure we’re delivering brands that are that are both unique and internationally relevant. Our expanded global commissioning team will focus on creating original series and docs across our key content categories while working with co-production partners to meet their needs.” Jamie Schouela President, Global Media, Blue Ant Media
