FOX Entertainment’s long-term growth strategy continues to unfold with the launch of FOX Entertainment Global, the company’s newly formed worldwide content sales division. The outfit is responsible for further diversifying and monetizing FOX’s rapidly expanding portfolio of owned original programming, according to today’s announcement by FOX Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier.
“Carefully curated, high-quality storytelling, delivered directly to the international community through FOX Entertainment Global, will quickly become a differentiator for FOX,” said Collier. “This newly formed distribution arm is uniquely positioned to develop customized international partnership opportunities, particularly apropos as so many competing programmers focus solely on vertical integration. FOX Entertainment Global strategically complements FOX Entertainment’s long-term strategy of building a disciplined in-house infrastructure that supports its growing portfolio of owned content.”
Based in Los Angeles on the FOX Studios lot, FOX Entertainment Global will be responsible for overseeing the international, multi-platform sales and distribution of IP owned and produced by FOX Ent. and its in-house production studios, as well as premium content acquired from outside producers. The division will be overseen by Fernando Szew, who has been named CEO of FOX Entertainment Global. He reports to Stefan Reinhardt, President, Production Strategy and Operations, FOX Entertainment.
Next month, FOX Entertainment Global will formally join the international television sales community with a major presence at MIPCOM Cannes, where the global market will be introduced to FOX Entertainment’s wholly owned animated series Krapopolis, created by Emmy Award-winner Dan Harmon, and Grimsburg, starring and executive produced by Jon Hamm.
Both series are produced by FOX Ent.’s Emmy-winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, HouseBroken).
“For more than three decades, FOX has displayed a commanding ability to seize unforeseen opportunities and, in doing so, scale its business interests alongside the evolution of the entertainment industry,” added Szew. “Now, with an impressive, growing slate of in-house content, this expansion and formation of FOX Entertainment Global is a clear representation of our building on FOX’s undeniable entrepreneurial spirit and absolute independence to bring value to our creative and platform partners. It’s a thrill and honor to help re-introduce FOX to the global market at MIPCOM Cannes and beyond.”
FOX Entertainment Global will also manage content sales on behalf of MarVista Entertainment, which will continue to be run by Szew and operate under FOX Entertainment as an independent production studio. Tony Vassiliadis, COO of MarVista, will also serve as Executive Vice President of FOX Entertainment Global, reporting directly to Szew. The division will also collaborate with FOX’s current international distribution partners, Propagate Content, Incendo for opportunities in Canada and Sony Pictures Television.