World Storytelling Media Group to house both companies, with a combined sales and acquisitions team
Insight TV chief exec Viktoriia Tkachenko has unveiled a new parent company to house the channel operator and the recently acquired distribution assets of My Octopus Teacher firm Off The Fence (OTF), as well as a combined sales team.
World Storytelling Media Group (WSMG) will house pay TV and FAST channel operator Insight TV and factual-focused OTF, which was acquired by Insight this summer after the firm entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Both companies’ content investment and exploitation teams are being consolidated into a single unit within WSMG, with the restructure aimed at creating a single point of contact for buyers. Broadcast International understands there are no job losses as a result of the rejig.
WSMG’s catalogue includes automotive, food and lifestyle content from Insight TV, alongside OTF’s factual shows. New genres will be added in the future, the company said.
The new-look sales team includes Sam Thomson, who is senior vice-president of content sales for North America & Global Networks, and former Fox exec Joanna Rowley, who is director of content sales for APAC, UK & Eire.
Inês Isidro will work within the EMEA team as a sales executive looking after Benelux, Brazil and Portugal directly.
Insight TV will continue to focus on growing its portfolio of pay TV and FAST channels with all IP and rights investments now centralised within OTF.
Under the lead of Loren Baxter, OTF’s acquisition team will also now take on responsibility for buying on behalf of the channels, as well as from third-party producers.
She will collaborate closely with Sarah Reed, Insight TV’s director of programming and scheduling, and Lisette Schlippe, global vice president of FAST and Content, to source non-scripted programming for Insight TV’s channels, while also expanding the OTF distribution catalogue.
Bo Stehmeier, chief exec of OTF, added: “With now arguably the most experienced and largest factual commercial team under one roof, we’re eager to build strategic alliances with direct-to-consumer platforms, production companies, IP holders, and their investors worldwide.
“Our ambition under WSMG is to offer a true one-stop shop for the global non-scripted storytelling community.”
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