Blue Ant Media Appoints Jon Penn, Managing Director – International producer, distributor and channel operator, Blue Ant Media, announced today the establishment of a new Asia Pacific office based in Sydney, Australia, with the appointment of Jon Penn as Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Blue Ant Media.
Reporting to Jon, Jason Soh has been appointed as VP of Distribution, Asia, working out of Singapore. The appointments signal the expansion of Blue Ant Media’s channel and program distribution business in Asia Pacific, combining the company’s channel distribution and content sales in the region into one unit.
The Asia Pacific expansion aligns with the company’s recent announcement to merge production and distribution operations with marblemedia into one unified studio and rights business. Both announcements point to Blue Ant Media’s long-term global growth strategy, which includes scaling its creative production capacity and establishing new and stronger partnerships with streamers and broadcasters around the world.
Leading this new structure, Jon is responsible for overseeing content sales and expanding the distribution of Blue Ant Media’s global branded channels across Asia Pacific, which include the Love Nature brand and Blue Ant Media’s portfolio of FAST channels, including NatureTime, HauntTV, Homeful, Love Pets, Total Crime and HistoryTime.
In this role he will lead teams in Sydney and Singapore and will support the development of the company’s production business strategy in Australia, as well as advise on regional co-production opportunities.
Jon reports to Carlyn Staudt, Head of Commissioning, Global Media & General Manager, Love Nature and Mark Bishop, Co-President, Blue Ant Studios.
Based in Singapore, Jason will be responsible for content sales and leading distribution of Love Nature as well as developing Blue Ant Media’s FAST channel portfolio in Asia. Jason was previously Global Channels and Distribution Director – APAC for Wildbrain and has held senior business roles with WarnerMedia, HBO, Disney and Nickelodeon.
Rounding out the team’s expansion, Nick Solowski, Senior Director, International Sales & Acquisitions, will continue his multi-regional content sales responsibilities but now will report into Jon as it relates to business in the Asia Pacific markets of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Additionally, Morgan Jacobson is joining Jon’s team as Senior Specialist, Programming and Affiliate Marketing for APAC. Morgan has relocated to Sydney from Love Nature’s Washington DC office and will be taking on sales and affiliate marketing responsibilities for the region.
“Jon is an exceptional commercial leader and his high-level experience in growing revenue streams and market share will be invaluable as we broaden Blue Ant Media’s business in this key region,”
– says Carlyn Staudt, Head of Commissioning, Global Media & General Manager, Love Nature.
“The team Jon has established brings together international sales experience and a keen knowledge of the brand, which sets up an incredible opportunity to grow a multi-faceted sales hub in Asia Pacific that places customers first with a myriad of content solutions.”
Jon Penn, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Blue Ant Media says:
“Blue Ant Media’s growing, high quality television portfolio and commitment to world class production and innovative distribution makes this an exciting opportunity,”
“I’m passionate about building new businesses in the Asia Pacific region and I’m looking forward to growing a dynamic team.”
Jon brings a wealth of experience to this new leadership position. Most recently he was a partner with media VC – ACT Media Ventures and operated his own advisory business working with a range of local and international media clients advising on business growth strategy.
In his prior advisory and agency work with Blue Ant Media, Jon was instrumental in the company’s expansion in Australia, including the successful launch of the Love Nature pay TV channel on Fetch TV and FAST channels HauntTV and Nature Time on Ten Play.
Prior to that he spent 10 years with BBC Studios, including three years as EVP Asia Pacific for Global Distribution where he oversaw all regional distribution including content sales, branded services and ancillary business lines. During his time at BBC Studios, he led partnership development in China with tech giants bilibili and Bytedance.
He also established BBC Studios’ production presence in Australia, developed the global children’s power brand Bluey and oversaw the launch of BritBox Australia.
Jon also worked at Fremantle for 11 years including 4 years as CEO Fremantle International, Asia Pacific.Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator.
The global media company owns and operates numerous production companies in North America and Asia-Pacific, creating content for broadcasters and streaming platforms in multiple genres including factual entertainment, natural history, documentary and adult animation.
Its distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a substantial catalogue of content, including one of the world’s largest 4K natural history offerings. Blue Ant Media operates linear and free streaming channels under several brands including Love Nature, Cottage Life, Smithsonian Channel (Canada), BBC Earth (Canada), HauntTV, Homeful, Drag Race Universe, CrimeTime, TotalCrime, HistoryTime and Love Pets.
Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with seven international offices in Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, London, Washington and Beijing.
Media Release – Blue Ant Media
Link to Blue Ant Media HERE
TV Central News content HERE
Blue Ant Media Appoints Jon Penn, Managing Director
Blue Ant Media Appoints Jon Penn, Managing Director
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