Ex-Viacom exec takes Sky movie role

European pay TV giant Sky has hired a former Viacom executive as head of acquisitions for its movie channels.

Katie Keenan

Katie Keenan, who was most recently chief buyer at Viacom UK network Channel 5 (C5) and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), will join Comcast-owned Sky at the beginning of July.

She will report to Sarah Wright, director of acquisitions for Sky’s entertainment content, and will oversee movie pacts across the company’s portfolio of Sky Cinema channels, including output deals with the Hollywood studios.

Keenan is credited with leading the acquired content and rights strategy for C5, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon, and bringing C5 and VIMN together.

She also landed rights to series including X Files and Will & Grace for Viacom and previously held positions at the BBC, Channel 4 and UKTV.

Wright said Keenan was a “true commercial star” and would be a “huge asset” as Sky Cinema strives to bring customers “great value content for the whole family.”