News

Screen Media announced today the acquisition of all rights to the documentary film Vince Carter: Legacy, which will premiere on the Crackle Plus Networks as an original title in October.

“Air Canada,” “Flying Man” and “Half-Man/Half-Amazing” were just a few nicknames attached to NBA star Vince Carter in his time with the Toronto Raptors, where he won Rookie of the Year honors with his high-flying game. Carter went on to become a Slam-Dunk Contest champion, an eight-time All Star, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the handful of players to score 51 points in a single game. He also may be the only player to ever to dunk on a 7’2″ defender by literally jumping over him.

What might be even more impressive, however, is Carter’s durability. High fly acts generally burn fast and bright, but Carter managed to play an NBA-record 22 seasons and, as his career wound down,...

Exclusive: New York-based 9 Story Media Group has struck a development deal with THINK450, the content and partnership arm of the National Basketball Players Association (Nbpa), which will aim to bring NBA players into the kids and family entertainment space.

The partnership includes two initial basketball themed series for kids: King Of The Court, a CG-animated and live action hybrid series created by 9 Story’s Angela C. Santomero, and co-created by Alyson Piekarsky (Blue’s Clues & You) and Halcyon Person; and Streetball, a live action series aimed at kids ages 6-11, created by Halcyon Person (Karma’s World).

Deal was brokered by Keith Dawkins’ Rock Hill Media Ventures with 9 Story’s President and CEO Vince Commisso and follows the recent announcement of Rock Hill’s partnership with THINK450, providing them with access to all 450 athletes represented by the union.

“We are thrilled that we have the opportunity to partner with THINK450 on these upcoming properties,...

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group has added Christina Norman, a veteran TV executive who heads content for an NBA-affiliated group, to its board of directors.

Norman is head of content for THINK450, which is billed as the “innovation engine” of the National Basketball Players Assn. She oversees all original content and documentaries, long- and short-form series that give players a creative outlet.

Previously, Norman has been CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, president of MTV and VH1, CEO of the Water Cooler Group, and has led her own consultancy, Gemini Entertainment. Norman also serves on the board of Bric Arts Media Brooklyn.

“In addition to being an accomplished and trusted executive and advisor, Christina is a trailblazer in the television space,” said Jim Moore, Chairman of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group. “Having led multiple world-class media brands, we know that she will prove to be a valuable asset for our...

TV One announced today that the 45th NAACP Image Awards is the most watched programming event in the history of the network! Obviously, it was a worthwhile pickup! Additionally, the 45th NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet Live Pre-Show and the Awards Show premieres are now TV One’s most watched telecasts this broadcast season. Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin served as the executive producers of the 45th NAACP Image Awards and the Red Carpet Live Pre-Show. The production team also included producer Byron Phillips, director Tony McCuin and talent producers Suzanne Bender and Stephanie Sacco. Christina Norman served as the executive producer for TV One. “As TV...

Photograph by Brigitte Sire

Photograph by C. Taylor Crothers/Getty Images

CEO, Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network

Big Idea: To create an entire TV network around Oprah Winfrey's call to "live your best life." Christina Norman, 47, is charged with suffusing the new self-help channel with Oprah's essence. "She's the spirit of the network, the muse of the network, but that doesn't mean you're going to see her on 24 hours of every day," Norman says. Own launches on New Year's Day 2011, replacing Discovery Health. The slate includes a Rosie O'Donnell talk show and a Mark Burnett reality contest called Your Own Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star.

Credentials: Norman spent 17 years at MTV, eventually becoming president. She reinvigorated VH1 and MTV, shepherding hits including Beavis and Butt-Head, the Video Music Awards, and the I Love series.

Her recharge: Norman left MTV in 2008, feeling burned out. Oprah...

Oprah's new cable network has a launch date. OWN will debut in January 2011 -- eight months before Oprah Winfrey's syndicated talk show airs its final episode.

"Oprah has been nourishing people through her television show for nearly 25 years, a legacy that has touched millions the world over," said Christina Norman, CEO of Own. "She is the life force behind Own and will be guiding the effort for this completely new 24-hour television experience premiering in January 2011."

The announcement is the latest in a series of launch dates for Own, which had a full-blown upfront presentation to advertisers in May. The network was originally expected to launch by the end of this year. Then it was pushed to 2010, and now 2011. The new launch date will be three years after the joint venture was originally formed.

Own is a joint venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications and will debut in about 80 million homes,...

By Josef Adalian

One of Oprah Winfrey's most trusted aides is headed west to serve as chief creative officer for Own: the Oprah Winfrey Network -- a move that's raising questions about whether Winfrey is planning to give up her syndicated daytime talkshow.

Lisa Erspamer, currently co-executive producer of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," will move from Chicago to Los Angeles in January for her new gig. Reporting to Own chief executive officer Christina Norman, Erspamer will be charged with bringing "an injection of Oprah's DNA into Own," Norman said.

But already, industry insiders...

Lisa Erspamer, a 15-year veteran of Harpo Prods., is taking a top creative position at Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Erspamer has been named chief creative officer. Reporting to Own's CEO Christina Norman, she "will partner with the senior team to create, shape and drive programming and ensure Oprah's unique editorial voice across all platforms," according to the company.

"This is an injection of Oprah's DNA into Own," Norman said.

Based in Los Angeles, Erspamer will take the new post in January.

Own chairman Winfrey called Erspamer, who has served as co-executive producer of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" since 2006, "a creative superstar."

During her tenure on the show, Erspamer has produced hundreds of episodes, including this season's kickoff party "flash mob" dance in the streets of Chicago and the two-part Whitney Houston interview.

Fledging cable network Own has going through a creative executive transformation following the January hire of Norman.

Allan Singer has joined Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network as executive vp distribution and strategy.

Based in Los Angeles, Singer starts Nov. 2. He will report to Own CEO Christina Norman.

Singer comes to Own from Comcast, where he most recently served as senior vp content acquisition.

At Comcast, he managed the company's network portfolio, including the acquisition of TechTV and the launches of TV One, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet West, Sny and PBS Kids Sprout.

Former AOL ad sales chief Kathleen Kayse has been named executive VP of advertising sales for OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network, effective immediately.

Kayse most recently served as executive VP of the digital media sales division of Discovery Communications, joining the company in February 2008 after a four-year stint at AOL.

In her new role, Kayse will oversee ad sales for OWN, which is expected to launch in 2010. She also will manage sales for the startup's digital assets, including Oprah.com. She reports to Own CEO Christina Norman and Discovery ad sales president Joe Abruzzese.

Prior to jumping to Discovery, Kayse put in 24 years at Time Warner, most recently as executive vp, marketing solutions for AOL's Platform-a, where she generated more than $1 billion in advertising revenue.

Previously, Kayse had served as the publisher of People magazine, managing all sales and marketing operations for the weekly.

What started as a panel discussion about how media companies make money off the Internet evolved into a discussion of how entertainment companies -- even such recent entrants as Google, Hulu and YouTube -- remain relevant as the pace of change accelerates.

Tuesday's panel on the future of new media in the digital age was presented by the Hollywood Radio & Television Society. Moderator and Disney president Robert Iger framed the first part of the debate by questioning how to get enough money out of new media to keep paying the costs of producing and distributing television shows, movies, games and other content if consumers think they are going to always get everything for free online.

"Will we ever be able to monetize our content on new platforms as we did on traditional platforms?" he asked his four panelists, all of whom were from the cyber side of the equation.

Chris Anderson,...

By Josef Adalian

Six TV veterans are joining the board of directors of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, the organization announced today.

 

The six additions:

 

--Jeff Bader, executive VP at ABC Entertainment.

--Gary Marenzi, co-president, MGM Television.

--Christina Norman, chief executive officer, Own.

--Jeff Wachtel, president, USA.

--Tim Spangler, Initiative Media.

--Greg Lipstone, Icm.

 

Hrts made the announcement Tuesday afternoon at a luncheon featuring the heads of several digital companies.

The top executive transformation at Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network continued Thursday when Jamila Hunter was named head of programming.

Effective Wednesday, Hunter will oversee all programming development for the network, reporting to CEO Christina Norman.

Hunter's appointment comes five months after Norman took the reins of Own and a month after Robin Schwartz stepped down as president.

With her all-scripted background and limited cable experience, Schwartz was a surprising first top exec hire at cable upstart Own, whose inaugural slate is built on unscripted series/talk shows, specials and theatricals.

Norman, a 17-year MTV Network veteran who served as president of MTV and VH1, is considered a perfect choice to spearhead the launch of Own. So is Hunter, a veteran unscripted executive with cable experience, to oversee the network's development slate.

Hunter was a key member of the team that rebranded Bravo with the launch of such series...

In an executive shakeup at upstart Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network, Robin Schwartz has stepped down as president after 10 months.

The position won't be filled, with CEO Christina Norman, who joined Own in January, directly overseeing all aspects of development and programming.

In a statement, Norman thanked Schwartz "for her hard work, dedication and passion. ... As a result of her resignation, I've decided to streamline executive reporting and will not be replacing the position."

Schwartz's top lieutenants, senior vp creative affairs Nina Wass and senior vp programming Maria Grasso, will now report directly to Norman.

Schwartz, who joined Own in June, was president of now-defunct Regency TV and held positions at NBC and ABC Family.

With her all-scripted background and limited cable experience, Schwartz was a surprising first top exec hire at Own, whose slate is built on unscripted series/talk shows, specials and theatricals.

On the other hand,...

New York -- Discovery Communications on Thursday offered media buyers their first look at what's being touted as the biggest idea since MTV, taking the wraps off the inaugural programming slate for the startup OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which features several regulars from "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Speaking at Discovery's upfront presentation, Own CEO Christina Norman said the channel's programming is being built around three central empowering themes: Best Life All Stars, Best Life Experiences and Best Life Inspiration.

Among the All Stars projects: a Harpo-produced strip helmed by frequent Oprah guest Peter Walsh, who makes his living as a professional organizer/clutter-buster; a one-hour sex and relationships talk show led by Sirius Xm radio host Dr. Laura Berman; and the newsmagazine "Lisa Ling Investigates."

The Inspirational leg of the tripod includes a docu-soap about a former competitive surfer and the Harpo-produced "Master Class," a series that in Winfrey's estimation,...

Sarah Silverman has been tapped to host the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on June 3.

"The other day I sat down too hard and sprained my labia majora; I'm OK, but I took it as a sign from God to host the MTV Movie Awards," said Silverman, star of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program.

MTV president Christina Norman praised Silverman's "irreverent, no-holds-barred sarcasm and humor" and said she's "just the person to orchestrate the madness and keep everyone guessing about who'll be her next target."

As previously announced, the awards will be executive produced by Mark Burnett. Performers, nominees and presenters will be announced at a later date.

NEW YORK -- MTV Networks president Van Toffler announced the promotion of two of executives Wednesday. Christina Norman has been named president of MTV, while Tom Calderone will become VH1 general manager. Norman was previously president of VH1, where she helped boost the channels' on-air design and overall creative direction, Toffler said. In her new role, Norman will be responsible for overseeing and directing various business aspects. She will also help manage MTV's digital media group, including MTV.com and the company's new broadband service MTV Overdrive. Calderone has served as executive vp of music programming and talent for MTV and MTV2. As general manager, Calderone will work with the VH1 team in all business aspects, and also oversee VH1 digital media efforts including VH1 Classic, VH1.com. and VH1 Soul. "Christina and Tom are two of the most gifted executives at our company. Their understanding of our unique culture, creative vision and overarching philosophy of placing the audience first in everything we do have greatly contributed to our success over the years," Toffler said.