TORONTO – Rogers and Vice Media have begun to flesh out their $100 million joint venture Vice Canada, announcing a number of senior production hires on Monday.
Production veteran Michael Kronish, previously an executive producer at Zone3, has been tapped as EVP television and online, to oversee all Canadian-produced content intended for distribution on television, mobile and online. In addition, Vice Canada has hired Jason Ford as VP production from Red Bull Media House; Andrea Schmidt joins as an executive producer from Al Jazeera’s current affairs documentary show; and Tania Natcheff, previously an executive producer at the CBC, joins the production team as director, factual programming.
In addition, Patrick McGuire has been promoted to head of content to oversee original digital production. Other additions to the editorial team include Josh Visser as managing editor of Vice.com; Chris Bilton as deputy editor of Vice.com; and Karon Liu as managing editor of Vice’s new website and digital video channel dedicated to food, MUNCHIES.
As Cartt.ca reported last October, Vice Canada properties will include a new multimedia production facility in Toronto, a Canadian TV channel scheduled to launch later this year, and youth-focused Canadian content for mobiles, tablets and computers.
“This is an exciting first step to building this powerhouse for Canadian content,” said Rogers’ VP of content partnerships Navaid Mansuri, in the news release. “We’re proud to be working with Vice on this exciting initiative to create world-class unique and provocative content for Canadians and audiences around the world.”
