Blue Ant Media sets restructured APAC team under former BBC Studios exec Jon Penn
Toronto-headquartered producer, distributor and channel operator Blue Ant Media has appointed former BBC Studios (BBCS) exec Jon Penn as MD of its restructured business in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
Jon Penn
Penn will lead the company’s distribution business in APAC and a newly formed team with headquarters in Australia and operations in Singapore.
The newly created position oversees the recently combined distribution of content and channel brands, including Blue Ant’s portfolio of free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels.
Reporting to Penn, Jason Soh has been appointed as VP of distribution, Asia, working out of Singapore. Soh was previously global channels and distribution director for APAC for Canadian children’s giant Wildbrain and has held senior business roles with WarnerMedia, HBO, Disney and Nickelodeon.
The APAC rejig comes as Blue Ant Media gets set to begin the process of merging its production and distribution operations with Marblemedia into one unified studio and rights business after acquiring the Canadian firm last month.
Blue Ant Media said its long-term global growth strategy will see it scale its creative production capacity and establish new and stronger partnerships with streamers and broadcasters around the world.
Penn, who exited BBCS after a decade last year, is responsible for overseeing content sales and expanding the distribution of Blue Ant Media’s global branded channels across APAC, 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 advising on regional coproduction opportunities.
Penn reports to Carlyn Staudt, head of commissioning, global media and general manager, Love Nature and Mark Bishop, co-president, Blue Ant Studios.
Penn spent 10 years with BBCS, including three years as executive VP APAC for global distribution, where he oversaw all regional distribution including content sales, branded services and ancillary business lines.
Prior to joining the commercial arm of the BBC, Penn also worked at Fremantle for 11 years including four years as CEO Fremantle International, APAC.
Most recently Penn was a partner of ACT Media Ventures and provided advisory and agency work for Blue Ant Media via his consultancy firm as the company expanded in Australia.
This saw the launch of the Love Nature pay TV channel on Fetch TV and FAST channels HauntTV and Nature Time on Ten Play down under.
Nick Solowski, senior director of international sales and acquisitions, will continue his multi-regional content sales responsibilities but will now report to Penn as it relates to business in the APAC markets of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Additionally, Morgan Jacobson is joining Penn’s team as senior specialist, programming and affiliate marketing for APAC. Jacobson has relocated to Sydney from Love Nature’s Washington DC office and will be taking on sales and affiliate marketing responsibilities for the region.
The news follows last week’s departure of long-serving Solange Attwood, the executive VP of Blue Ant Media sales arm Blue Ant International, to launch her own production business.
