It looks like Disney’s really starting to cut back on their new film production.

Potential buyers of Walt Disney Co.’s (DIS) Miramax film unit include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) and the Weinstein brothers, Reuters reported Monday on its Web site, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation said.

Independent studio Summit Entertainment might also be interested in Miramax, the sources said on condition of anonymity, according to the new agency.

A Lions Gate spokesman was unavailable for comment, and Disney and Summit declined comment, the report said.

The Weinstein Co. confirmed its interest in Miramax, the report said. “We are keen to look at the company and we will see what happens in coming weeks,” it quoted David Glasser, operations executive for the independent Weinstein Co., as saying.

“Wizards of Waverly Place” hit a new series high with 6.2 million viewers. If that isn’t enough of a reason to renew the show, then I don’t know what is!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday’s all new one-hour “Wizards of Waverly Place” (8:00 – 9:00 p.m.) ranked as the series’ No. 1 telecast of all time in Total Viewers (6.2 million) and Kids 6-11 (2.6 million/10.8 rating), and performed at near record-setting levels in Tweens 9-14 (2.4 million/9.8 rating – No. 3 telecast ever).

At 9 o’clock, an original “The Suite Life on Deck” posted the show’s best numbers in nearly 4 months (since 10/2/09), standing as its 3rd-most-watched telecast on record in Total Viewers (5.2 million) and Tweens 9-14 (2.1 million/8.6 rating), and 4th-most-watched to date in Kids 6-11 (2.4 million/9.6 rating).

• “Wizards of Waverly Place” (6.2 million) and “The Suite Life on Deck” (5.2 million) ranked
  No. 1 in their time slots versus all TV in Total Viewers, standing as Friday’s Top 2 scripted TV telecasts overall.
• Led by “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “The Suite Life on Deck,” Disney Channel aired the Top 6 TV telecasts on Friday in both Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

Source: TVbyTheNumbers

From what I gather, Nikki Reed will be in charge of finding new shows, so as a site dedicated to saving existing show, she will have little relevance to us. However, it’s still important to know who she is, and what she does. Which is why I’m posting this press release:

NIKKI REED NAMED VICE PRESIDENT,
ORIGINAL SERIES, DISNEY CHANNEL AND DISNEY XD

Nikki Reed has been named Vice President, Original Series, overseeing live-action development for Disney Channel and Disney XD, it was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channel, to whom she will report.

Reed, who has more than 13 years’ experience overseeing feature films and television series development, will be responsible for developing new live-action series geared towards kids, tweens and families on Disney Channel, Disney XD, as well as numerous platforms around the world.

Bonnett said, “Disney Channel is a home for outstanding comedy writers. Nikki’s breadth of experience in both film and television makes her the perfect executive to help us maintain our dominance in kids programming and grow Disney XD into a top destination for live action comedies.”

In her new role, Reed will oversee the development and execution of Disney Channel and Disney XD Original Series pilots, recruit series creators, executive producers, writers and directors and collaborate with the Casting department to identify new talent.

Reed most recently served as Vice President of Current and Development at Universal Cable Productions. From 2003-08 she was a development executive for executive producer Barry Kemp’s Bungalow 78 Productions while it was based at Disney’s Touchstone Television. Previously she served as Vice President of Development for Director Jon Turtletaub’s Junction Entertainment for Disney Studios. There she spearheaded the development of the feature films “National Treasure” starring Nicholas Cage and “The Kid” starring Bruce Willis.

In 2005 Reed served as an executive producer on the feature film “Invincible” starring Mark Wahlberg. Reed was part of the team responsible for negotiating the rights for Vince Papale, overseeing the screenplay script development and was involved in all aspects of the film.

The Los Angeles native is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

I don’t know much about Sheryl, but she seems like a pretty good choice from what I’ve read so far.

BURBANK, Calif., Dec 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Walt Disney Company
(NYSE:DIS) Board of Directors has nominated Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating
officer of Facebook Inc., to be a new independent director, effective upon her
election at the Company’s next annual meeting.

“Sheryl is an outstanding executive who can add incredible value to what is already a diverse and highly experienced group of directors,” said John E. Pepper Jr., Disney’s chairman. “She brings great expertise in the online world, considerable international experience and a deep understanding of consumer behavior.”

Sandberg has served as COO of Facebook, an online social utility company, since March 2008. In that capacity, she has been responsible for building Facebook’s operations globally and managing its sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy, privacy and communications functions. Facebook is now considered the number one global social network with more than 350 million members.

Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations for Google Inc., an Internet search engine company, a post she assumed in 2001. In that role, she built and managed Google’s online sales channels, which represents the majority of Google’s customers worldwide, for both AdWords and AdSense.

Sandberg, 40, is also a former Chief of Staff of the United States Treasury Department and previously served as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and as an economist with The World Bank.

“Sheryl has been at the forefront of a technological revolution that’s opened up a world of new possibilities for consumers and which has greatly affected the way we do business,” said Robert A. Iger, Disney’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her unique insight, born of great practical experience, will be of considerable value to Disney’s shareholders.”

“Disney has remained an entertainment icon around the world for over 80 years by enthusiastically embracing change and new technologies,” said Sandberg. “It’s a tremendous honor to be nominated to the Disney board.”

Sandberg is also a director of Starbucks Corp. and serves on a number of nonprofit boards including The Brookings Institution, The AdCouncil, Women for Women International and V-Day. She received a Master’s Degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Harvard University.

Disney shareholders will vote on Sandberg’s nomination and the re-election of the Company’s other 12 directors at the next Disney annual meeting, March 10, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.

SOURCE: The Walt Disney Company

Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and one of the most influential people in the recent history of the Disney company passed away today.

Roy was one of my heroes. He fought for what he believed, he fought for quality in Disney animation, and he ultimately saved the company. Twice.

Without his guiding hand, I don’t know what will happen to the company. Iger seems to be doing a good job, and I have faith in John Lasseter and Steve Jobs. But we’ll all miss Roy.

What follows is the official Disney Press Release:

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar(R)-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.”

Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.”

Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.

After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.

He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award(R)-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar(R) nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”

Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.

In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.

An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.

Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.

In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.

Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.

Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.

Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

Eventually, they’re gonna have to have another shareholder meeting in CA so Webmaster Greg can attend…

BURBANK, Calif., Dec 02, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) board today declared an annual cash dividend of $0.35 per share, payable on January 19, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business December 14, 2009. The January dividend payment represents the 54th consecutive year of dividend payments to shareholders.

“While last year was a challenging one, our strategic focus has remained consistent and our execution disciplined,” said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO. “We are pleased to be able to continue returning capital to our shareholders through dividends while investing for future growth.”

The Company also announced that it has scheduled its annual shareholders’ meeting for Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM in San Antonio, Texas.

As you no doubt remember, the outgoing president of Disney Channel Worldwide, Rich Ross, was recently promoted to Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Today, Disney has named Carolina Lightcap as the new president of Disney Channel Worldwide. As such, she becomes the most important person that SDS members contact going forward. We don’t know that much about her yet, but it’s important our supporters make a good, strong, and untited impression on her.

We’re working on putting together a special “Welcome to DC” event for her. Please check back for more on that as we work out the details.

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) named Carolina Lightcap as the new president of Disney Channels Worldwide, according to an AP report. She is replacing Rich Ross, who will now be the movie studios chairman. Lightcap joined Disney in 2000 and was most recently vice president of programming and creative affairs and CMO of the Latin American operations. According to the company, Lightcap spearheaded the Latin American launch of “High School Musical” and led the creative transition of the Disney Channel from a premium service to a basic service in the region and she will relocate to Burbank, California.

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It’s that time again, of year again, The Walt Disney Company has announced fourth quarter earnings. And revenues are up!

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 46 cents, ex-items, topping consensus estimates of 41 cents.

Revenues in the quarter rose 4% year-over-year to $9.87 billion, and came in  ahead of consensus estimates of $9.29 billion.

“Although last year was a difficult one due in part to the weak global economy, I’m pleased with the way our businesses have responded to the downturn,” said President and CEO Robert A. Iger.

“We’ve stayed focused on our long-term strategy, efficiently managed costs, and continued to invest in initiatives to deliver future growth. We also have adapted our organization to respond to and take advantage of the changes taking place in our businesses and will continue to do so as we position Disney to thrive for years to come.”

Further earnings breakdowns:

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said Thursday that fiscal fourth-quarter profits rose 18%, driven by strength at its cable networks, and its key theme parks division showed signs of improvement.

The results followed news of a dramatic management shake-up in which Disney said Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs would switch positions with the head of its parks division, Jay Rasulo. The unusual swap is the second high-level management change in two months.

Some company observers suggest the move may portend a test to select a CEO successor to Iger, 58 years old; however, people close to the company said the job swap did not mean that.

On the company’s earnings conference call, Iger said, “It’s incredibly valuable to have executives gain experience in different parts of the company.”

For the quarter ended Oct. 3, Disney reported a profit of $895 million, or 47 cents a share, up from $760 million, or 40 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter, which had one more week than a year ago, included gains from the merger of Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks as well as $166 million in restructuring and impairment charges.

Excluding items, earnings rose to 46 cents a share from 44 cents. Revenue rose 4.5% to $9.87 billion. Analysts’ estimates were for per-share earnings of 41 cents on revenue of $9.29 billion, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

Following the better-than-expected results, Disney shares gained 2.2% to $29.70. The stock, which reached its 52-week high last month, has almost doubled from a seven-year low in March.

Disney’s media networks segment posted higher sales and earnings on strong growth at cable channels ESPN and ABC Family; meanwhile, its parks division showed resilience and stability in the face of the economic downturn, UBS analyst Michael Morris said.

Disney’s theme-park division, which accounts for about 30% of overall revenue, saw a 17% drop in profit as revenue slid 4.2%. Disneyland ended discounts in August and has raised ticket prices, while Walt Disney World continues to offer deals. Last week, the Chinese government approved a planned theme park in Shanghai, which could lead to one of the largest foreign investments in that country.

Staggs said hotel bookings for 2010 at the company’s theme parks division are down 5% from a year ago. The decline reflects the continuing economic slump, but consumers are also booking vacations closer to their date, Staggs said.

“We will continue to gauge the market and use promotions when we feel it’s appropriate,” Staggs said. Fourth-quarter attendance at its parks division was up 3%, excluding an extra week of operations that affected comparisons to last year.

Profit at the ABC broadcast network and its cable stations, including ESPN and the Disney Channel, climbed 26% on a 14% gain in revenue. Cable networks’ earnings climbed 19%, and broadcasting returned to black ink.

The film and TV production studio reported an operating loss, following its third-quarter loss, which was the first since 2005. Revenue rose 3%. On Wednesday, Disney said it would overhaul the way its studio markets and distributes films, part of an effort to adjust to rapidly shifting audience habits.

Like other big media companies, Disney has been hurt by sharp drops in advertising, and its movie studio has seen lower DVD sales and lackluster box-office performance. Attendance and spending fell at its theme parks during the recession. But in August, the company went on offense, agreeing to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL), owner of such comic book heroes as Iron Man and Captain America, for $4 billion as part of its effort to attract young boys to its products.

Meanwhile, the executive shakeups have continued, with Tom Staggs and Jay Rasulo switching jobs!

Robert Iger, chief executive of The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), said Thursday that the company’s management shakeup will help expand the experience of its leadership and make the company more competitive.

The company announced that its chief financial officer, Tom Staggs, will swap jobs with Jay Rasulo, now the head of its parks and resorts division.

“It’s incredibly valuable to have executives gain experience in different parts of the company,” Iger said on a conference call following the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter release.

The shakeup appears to be a test that may portend succession plans for Iger. It also comes amid other management changes at Disney that appear designed to help the company improve cooperation between its divisions and better position itself for the digital shift that is roiling the media industry.

The company recently installed former Disney Channel head Rich Ross as chairman of Walt Disney Studios. Former Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook departed the company in September, and Miramax Films President Daniel Battsek left last month.

In all honesty, I wasn’t sure if they where going to renew the show or not. I expected runaway ratings when the show premiered, and instead ratings have been flat. That plus the fact that they’ve aired nearly the entire first season without announcing the renewal (until now) made me wonder if disney was second guessing themselves.

Anyway, now we know that Disney has in fact renewed JONAS for a second season. I wonder if Rich Ross leaving DC and moving over to Features had any impact on this decision.

Anyway, what follows is the official Disney Press Release. Take note of how little they actually talk about the show and instead talk about the JoBros music. they barely even mention Chelsea and Nicole.

“JONAS,” THE HIT COMEDY SERIES STARRING
THE MULTI-PLATINUM AND MULTI-PLATFORM JONAS BROTHERS,
PICKED UP FOR SEASON TWO ON DISNEY CHANNEL

– “Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream,” a Popular Short-form Series,
Also Picked Up for Season Two, Begins Production in Europe –

Disney Channel has picked up Season Two of the hit comedy series “JONAS,” starring the multi-platinum recording artists Jonas Brothers plus popular actresses Chelsea Staub and Nicole Anderson. Two new and notable producers, Lester Lewis (“The Office,” “The Larry Sanders Show”) and Paul Hoen (director and co-producer of “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” DGA Award-winning director of “Jump In!,” and “The Cheetah Girls One World,” among others), have been named executive producers of the series. Season two of “JONAS” is scheduled to begin production in Hollywood in February for debut in mid-2010 on Disney Channel, DisneyChannel.com, mobile and VOD platforms. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president, entertainment, Disney Channels Worldwide.

(Click here for images from “JONAS” or visit www.disneychannelmedianet.com. Registration required.)

This month, while on the European leg of their hugely successful Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009 (produced by Live Nation), Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas also began production on Season Two of their popular short-form reality series, “Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream,” for premiere in early 2010. It will be followed by the highly anticipated Disney Channel Original Movie “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” in summer.

Marsh said, “We couldn’t ask for a more collaborative or creative partnership than we have with the Jonas Brothers – and the success of our first season of ‘JONAS’ speaks for itself. As we build on that success in a second season, we are thrilled to add the extraordinary creative talents of Lester Lewis and Paul Hoen to the producing team.”

Regarding the appeal of a second season of “Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream,” Marsh continued, “We can deliver something to our viewers that no one else can – exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the real life adventures of one of the superstar bands of our time. That’s exactly the kind of unique experience our viewers have come to expect from Disney Channel.”

Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation, the band’s global touring partner, said, “Two years ago we joined forces with the Jonas Brothers’ team when the band was performing small concerts in our House of Blues clubs. Over the last two years they have developed into the superstars they are today, playing in sold out arenas and stadiums throughout the world.” He continued, “Today they are a true global touring powerhouse, just won Billboard Magazine’s Choice Tour Award for 2009, and stand among the top grossing artists of the year.”

In its primary timeslot (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.), “JONAS” ranks as TV’s #1 program among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 and cable TV’s #1 program in Total Viewers (averaging 3.4 million viewers). For all of 2009, “JONAS” is #8 among all TV series in Kids 6-11 and on cable TV among Tweens. In its first season, the series also won a Teen Choice Award in the Choice TV Breakout Series category. In 2008 “Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream” reached over 85 million unique Total Viewers, and 17 million Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

The success of their TV ventures is among a notable list of Jonas Brothers milestones over the past year including:

• A three-continent concert tour, “Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009,” that sold 1.5 million arena tickets and ranks among the year’s top grossing tours. Last week at the Billboard Touring Awards, Jonas Brothers won the 2009 Eventful Fans’ Choice Award for the best concert tour of the year
• A #1 album debut, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” one of 2009’s top album debuts
• Three #1 hit singles and five Top 10 songs on Radio Disney’s listener-generated Top 30
• #3 highest-grossing 3D concert film of all time, “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience”
• The launch of a joint venture record label with Disney Music Group
• A Grammy Award nomination
• New York Times best-selling book, “Burning Up: On Tour with the Jonas Brothers”

In addition, Jonas Brothers have amassed nearly four million fans on Facebook, MySpace and Say Now and are the #1 most-subscribed music channel and the #5 channel overall on YouTube.

The new season of “JONAS” follows the three hardest working brothers in show business, Kevin, Joe and Nick Lucas, as they set out on a summer adventure they will never forget. Along with their friend and chief of security Big Rob (played by Jonas Brothers’ real-life chief of security Rob Feggans, a familiar face to Jonas Brothers fans) the brothers pack up from their converted New Jersey firehouse home and head to Los Angeles. What starts out as a relaxing vacation turns into three life-changing opportunities for the boys: Joe pursues a prized role in a big Hollywood film, Kevin gets to indulge his newfound passion for the movie business by shadowing a famous director, and Nick partners with an eccentric record producer to work on the next JONAS album (when he isn’t busy with his latest passion…surfing). Their best friend, Stella Malone, is along for the ride, staying with her aunt and interning in the wardrobe department on the set of Joe’s movie. Documenting the experience is their friend and uber-Jonas fan, Macy Misa, who keeps all the fans up to date with her Jonas blog.

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Official Disney Press Release Follows:

KEVIN GAMBLE JOINS DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION
AS VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT

Kevin Gamble has been named Vice President, Development, Disney Television Animation, it was announced today by Eric Coleman, Senior Vice President, Original Series, Disney Television Animation, to whom he will report. A top creative executive in CG animation and new media, Gamble joins Disney with 12 years experience, most recently as Vice President, Production & Creative for Classic Media.

In this new role, Gamble will be responsible for the development and production of new animation shorts and series geared towards kids, tweens and families on Disney Channel, Disney XD and multi-platforms reaching hundreds of millions around the world. He will also oversee the recruitment of new artists, directors and writers, and will collaborate with the Talent and Music departments.

Coleman said, “We’re excited to gain the insights of someone as uniquely talented and experienced as Kevin. I know that his creative spirit, production skills and strong relationships in the animation community will help us break new ground and continue the legacy of Disney.”

Gamble has been working in animation since 1997. He spent six years at Canada’s Mainframe Entertainment, working on such groundbreaking projects as “Reboot”, television’s first CG animated series. He was also producer of Mattel’s CG series “Max Steel.” From 2005-06, he was Director of Development for the Canadian animation company Nerd Corps, where he developed the CG animated series “Storm Hawks.” He also produced the latest version of “George of the Jungle,” a modern re-invention of the classic J. Ward series. As Vice President of Production & Creative for Classic Media, Gamble oversaw its TV and DVD projects. While there, he was Producer of the upcoming Flash DTV movie “Kung Fu Magoo,” as well as several upcoming CG series based on Classic Media properties.

Co-creator of Tiki Bar TV, one of the web’s first video podcasts, Gamble has appeared on leading webcasts including “This Week in Tech” and “Diggnation.” He won his first film festival at 13 with the short film “Math Time,” which was made with his creative partner Jeff Macpherson. A native of Vancouver, Canada, Gamble will relocate from New York to Los Angeles and will be based at Disney’s Burbank headquarters.

Disney Television Animation is an industry leader in the production of quality animated properties for television. Its series air seven days a week on both cable and broadcast outlets and new media platforms around the world including Disney Channel, Disney XD, ABC Kids on the ABC Television Network, Disney Online, SVOD and VOD. Disney Television Animation is part of the Disney Channels Worldwide and the Disney ABC Television Group.