TORONTO – Blue Ant Media has launched a global networks division to support its international expansion efforts that will be led by Ward Platt in the newly created role of CEO, global networks & kids.
Platt’s previous leadership roles include COO positions at National Geographic Partners and Fox International Channels, and CEO of National Geographic Channels International from 2013-2015.
In his new role, reporting to TV & digital CEO Raja Khanna, Platt (pictured) will be responsible for leading and growing children’s nature broadcaster ZooMoo, a joint venture with AT&T; Love Nature 4K, a joint venture with Smithsonian Networks; and recently acquired RTL CBS Entertainment and RTL CBS Extreme.
ZooMoo and Love Nature 4K produce and own all rights to all owned content through working with Blue Ant Media’s in house production companies and third party production partners, allowing the brands to be easily distributed on all types of platforms including, but not limited to, pay-TV, SVOD, AVOD and OTT, reads the company’s news release.
"Ward brings a wealth of experience, industry knowledge and leadership to support the expansion of our suite of channels across linear and streaming platforms all over the world,” said Khanna, in Thursday’s release.
The management team from the recently acquired RTL CBS Asia business will oversee the global networks business in Asia under Platt and small global networks teams have been established in EMEA, and Latin America to do the same.
“I am excited to be joining the Blue Ant Media team as CEO for Global Networks & Kids”, added Platt. “We have strong brands that are rapidly growing in popularity around the world thanks to the great content our sister divisions are developing including content coming from NHNZ, Northern Pictures, Beach House Pictures and other third party production partners. We now have moderate scale to our business, good momentum and strong teams on the ground in Asia EMEA and Latin America, who are focused on creating rewarding partnerships with distribution platforms across the globe.”
