SANTA MONICA, Calif. and SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2015 /CNW/ -- Multi-platform production executive Seth Laderman has been named Executive Vice President & General Manager of the previously announced Comic-Con International subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, the new platform preparing to launch in the first quarter of 2016, it was announced today by the channel's operators, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Comic-Con International.
Mr. Laderman, in association with Comic-Con International, will be responsible for programming the service's broad portfolio of content, including original short-form content created exclusively for the channel's subscribers, films and television series from Lionsgate and other studios designed to appeal to the diverse interests of Comic-Con's fans as well as exclusive archived footage from Comic-Con's 45-year history. The Comic-Con International SVOD service is designed to expand the comics and pop culture event of the year into a year-round online experience for longtime fans and new audiences.
"We intend to differentiate our service through the depth and diversity of its content, the quality of its curation and the joys of discovering its rich mix of programming," said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer. "Seth is ideally qualified to create a line-up that delights fans and newcomers alike with a combination of beloved treasures, thrilling discoveries and unique original content designed exclusively to satisfy our audiences."
"We are thrilled to have Seth join the team. He has the track record, skill set and creative instincts to produce programming that speaks to our fans and extends the magic of the Comic-Con International experience to online audiences around the world," continued Comic-Con Director of Marketing & Public Relations David Glanzer. "His unique understanding of fan culture makes him the perfect choice for this position and he, along with Lionsgate, will help expand our horizons by delivering premium quality, fun, and educational content to an ever growing audience."
Mr. Laderman has spent the past 12 years developing content and overseeing production for digital and television platforms. He was head of production for Legendary Digital and Nerdist Industries, helping to spearhead the digital growth of Nerdist Industries as the YouTube premium content initiative was getting underway. At Nerdist he helped lead the transformation of Chris Hardwick's start-up podcast and Website into a worldwide distribution platform with over 20 million monthly active users. He also oversaw the Nerdist Podcast Network encompassing more than 30 different podcasts with programming seven nights a week.
While at Nerdist he also helped launch and executive produce a number of digital projects that transitioned into television shows and linear programming including All Star Celebrity Bowling on AMC, Nerdist News on the SyFy Network, Justin Willman's Magic Meltdown on Comedy Central, The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Live Show on BBC America and the upcoming reboot of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl in partnership with Fullscreen.
Mr. Laderman subsequently headed content operations as Senior VP for the newly-launched Legendary Digital Networks after Legendary Pictures acquired Nerdist. In that capacity, he ran day-to-day operations and oversaw content acquisition and development for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls at the Party and Felicia Day's Geek & Sundry in addition to Hardwick's Nerdist Industries. He helped forge content partnerships with Xbox, Spotify, Twitch and Verizon to grow the Legendary brand into a major force in the digital world.
"This is a world I know and love, a community I appreciate and respect. I'm thrilled to embark on this adventure with Lionsgate and Comic-Con International, two of the boldest, most innovative and visionary brands in fan culture," said Mr. Laderman. "It's an incredible opportunity to engage this awesome fan base and launch a service that will expand the world of Comic-Con by bringing exciting new content to its fans."
"I worked with Seth at Nerdist, and he speaks our language," said Lionsgate President of Interactive Ventures & Games Peter Levin. "His understanding of the fan experience and his track record of launching great new digital shows make him the perfect choice to lead the expansion of the pop culture event of the year into a year-round online experience for future generation fans, geeks, nerds like us and newbies alike."
Last year 17 of the top 20 North American box office blockbusters had a presence at the Comic-Con Convention along with ground-breaking television series such as The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. Comic-Con International has grown from 300 attendees in the basement of San Diego's U.S. Grant Hotel in 1970 to well over 130,000 fans from around the world last year, marking its evolution into a staple of popular culture and the longest-running comics and popular arts convention in America. Badges for this year's Comic-Con sold out in 60 minutes.
Fans may visit http://comic-con.org/ondemand to become the first to learn details about the new service.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms, video games and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black and the breakout series The Royals.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, The Age of Adaline, CBS/Lionsgate's The DUFF, John Wick, Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions' A Most Wanted Man, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com
ABOUT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL
Comic-Con International (CCI) is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. In addition to its San Diego convention each summer (the world's largest comics convention of its kind), CCI organizes WonderCon each spring. On the web: Comic-Con.org, Facebook.com/comiccon, Twitter.com/comic_con.
For further information, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes
Lionsgate
(310) 255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
David Glanzer
Comic-Con International
(619) 414-1020
pr@comic-con.org
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SOURCE Lionsgate
