Imagine names M4’s Falvey president

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s US prodco Imagine Television has appointed the former chief content officer at Verizon’s now defunct shortform mobile service M4 as its president, following the promotion of Francie Calfo.

Samie Kim Falvey

Samie Kim Falvey’s remit will include working on drama and comedy development and production for Imagine. Her appointment comes days after incumbent Calfo was upped to chairman.

Falvey, who will report to Calfo, joined Verizon to develop M4 with AwesomenessTV in August but the telco subsequently decided not to go ahead with the project.

Prior to that she headed comedy at ABC and worked on developing international drama with the Alphabet network’s entertainment division.

Her arrival at Imagine comes as it expands into TV, having recently agreeing a four-year deal with US broadcaster CBS. The co-financing and first-look agreement covers scripted and unscripted programming as well as longform digital.

The pact will allow Imagine to partner CBS to coproduce and co-own programming for the CBS network, its streamer CBS All Access and cablenet Showtime.

CBS will have a first look at new Imagine TV series, with CBS Television Studios serving as a production partner and worldwide distributor. Imagine will retain distribution rights in certain Asian territories, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Last year Imagine received a US$100m investment from Raine Group.