Exclusive: Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends and Valorant, continues to bolster its entertainment studio with a handful of key executive hires hailing from Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount and more.
On Thursday, Shauna Spenley, President of Riot Games Entertainment, revealed that Maria Egan will join the game developer’s entertainment division as Global Head of Music & Events, Kristin Moss as Global Head of Entertainment Marketing, Emily Briggs as Global Head of Entertainment Finance and Strategy and Ken Basin as Global Head of Business Operations. In their new roles, they will help develop Riot’s slate of film, television and content that extends Riot Games’ IP. Riot made a splash in November with its first foray into entertainment content, Arcane which went on to dominate the TV side of the 49th annual Annie Awards in March.
Said Spenley: “The success of Arcane exemplified players’ excitement and appetite for world-building across games,...
On Thursday, Shauna Spenley, President of Riot Games Entertainment, revealed that Maria Egan will join the game developer’s entertainment division as Global Head of Music & Events, Kristin Moss as Global Head of Entertainment Marketing, Emily Briggs as Global Head of Entertainment Finance and Strategy and Ken Basin as Global Head of Business Operations. In their new roles, they will help develop Riot’s slate of film, television and content that extends Riot Games’ IP. Riot made a splash in November with its first foray into entertainment content, Arcane which went on to dominate the TV side of the 49th annual Annie Awards in March.
Said Spenley: “The success of Arcane exemplified players’ excitement and appetite for world-building across games,...
- 5/5/2022
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Could show business be getting … nicer?
Believe it or not, yes, according to Ken Basin. The pandemic has fostered a kinder culture conducive to the kind of dealmaking he’s involved in as head of business affairs at Paramount TV. Getting production back on line has demanded studios, networks and unions working closer than ever to hammer out the details.
“I think it’s really been a healthy environment where people have kind of brought their best selves to the negotiations and tried to approach things in a way that’s solution-oriented rather than adversarial in a negotiation climate that is sometimes particularly adversarial,” said Basin on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Listen to the podcast here:
In addition to elaborating on the complexities inherent in crafting return-to-work rules, Basin talks about how Hollywood is stepping up its efforts to be more inclusive in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Believe it or not, yes, according to Ken Basin. The pandemic has fostered a kinder culture conducive to the kind of dealmaking he’s involved in as head of business affairs at Paramount TV. Getting production back on line has demanded studios, networks and unions working closer than ever to hammer out the details.
“I think it’s really been a healthy environment where people have kind of brought their best selves to the negotiations and tried to approach things in a way that’s solution-oriented rather than adversarial in a negotiation climate that is sometimes particularly adversarial,” said Basin on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Listen to the podcast here:
In addition to elaborating on the complexities inherent in crafting return-to-work rules, Basin talks about how Hollywood is stepping up its efforts to be more inclusive in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.
- 7/29/2020
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Paramount Pictures has adjusted the moniker of its television production unit.
As of Tuesday, Paramount Television has been renamed Paramount Television Studios. That lines up from a brand perspective with the existing CBS Television Studios operation, which is much larger than its counterpart. The move is understood to be an effort to end confusion in the marketplace between the production unit and the Paramount Network cable channel that is run out of New York.
The name change comes on the heels of the closing of the merger of Viacom and CBS Corp. in December. The impetus for the change was the increase in the number of instances when viewers and industryites — and even ViacomCBS senior managers — mistook Paramount Television for the New York-based Paramount Network cable channel, or the other way around.
There had been speculation in the industry that some form of consolidation between Paramount TV and CBS Television Studios was inevitable.
As of Tuesday, Paramount Television has been renamed Paramount Television Studios. That lines up from a brand perspective with the existing CBS Television Studios operation, which is much larger than its counterpart. The move is understood to be an effort to end confusion in the marketplace between the production unit and the Paramount Network cable channel that is run out of New York.
The name change comes on the heels of the closing of the merger of Viacom and CBS Corp. in December. The impetus for the change was the increase in the number of instances when viewers and industryites — and even ViacomCBS senior managers — mistook Paramount Television for the New York-based Paramount Network cable channel, or the other way around.
There had been speculation in the industry that some form of consolidation between Paramount TV and CBS Television Studios was inevitable.
- 1/14/2020
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Paramount Television has added the word “Studios” to its title and has unveiled a new logo for the division (see above).
“We felt it was necessary that our name reflect our function as an independent studio within the ViacomCBS company, as well as to our external partners in the industry,” said Nicole Clemens, President of Paramount Television Studios.
The change comes on the heels of a successful period of expansion for the division and the addition of several seasoned execs to the leadership roster. They include Jenna Santoianni, Executive Vice President of Development and Executive Vice President Cheryl Bosnak, who was hired to oversee the newly-created Current Department. Paramount Television Studios also has recently promoted Debra Bergman to Executive Vice President of Production and Ken Basin to Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs.
Paramount Television Studios’ current series roster includes Jack Ryan for Amazon, Catch-22 and Looking for Alaska for Hulu,...
“We felt it was necessary that our name reflect our function as an independent studio within the ViacomCBS company, as well as to our external partners in the industry,” said Nicole Clemens, President of Paramount Television Studios.
The change comes on the heels of a successful period of expansion for the division and the addition of several seasoned execs to the leadership roster. They include Jenna Santoianni, Executive Vice President of Development and Executive Vice President Cheryl Bosnak, who was hired to oversee the newly-created Current Department. Paramount Television Studios also has recently promoted Debra Bergman to Executive Vice President of Production and Ken Basin to Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs.
Paramount Television Studios’ current series roster includes Jack Ryan for Amazon, Catch-22 and Looking for Alaska for Hulu,...
- 1/14/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Television has added Rob Ortiz, Brian Agboh and Julie Katchen Swidler to its executive team.
Ortiz joins as Senior Vice President of Physical Production. With an extensive background as a Producer/Unit Production Manager in both television and features, Ortiz’s credits include Titans, Salvation, NCIS: New Orleans, and The Beguiled, among others. He began his new role in the Hollywood office on June 17; he’ll report to Debra Bergman, Head of Physical Production.
Katchen Swidler joins as Director on the newly-formed Current team, and will report to Cheryl Bosnak, Executive Vice President and Head of Current Programming. Katchen Swidler most recently served as Manager of Current Programming at Freeform where she was the covering executive on shows including Good Trouble, The Fosters and Pretty Little Liars. She starts June 24.
Agboh will be Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, reporting to Ken Basin, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs.
Ortiz joins as Senior Vice President of Physical Production. With an extensive background as a Producer/Unit Production Manager in both television and features, Ortiz’s credits include Titans, Salvation, NCIS: New Orleans, and The Beguiled, among others. He began his new role in the Hollywood office on June 17; he’ll report to Debra Bergman, Head of Physical Production.
Katchen Swidler joins as Director on the newly-formed Current team, and will report to Cheryl Bosnak, Executive Vice President and Head of Current Programming. Katchen Swidler most recently served as Manager of Current Programming at Freeform where she was the covering executive on shows including Good Trouble, The Fosters and Pretty Little Liars. She starts June 24.
Agboh will be Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, reporting to Ken Basin, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs.
- 6/19/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Television has made three new hires for its executive leadership team, naming Rob Ortiz as its new senior vice president of physical production, Brian Agboh as senior vice president of business affairs, and Julie Katchen Swidler as director of Paramount TV’s newly created current team.
“I’m so excited to welcome these new valuable executives to Paramount,” said Paramount TV president Nicole Clemens in a statement. “It thrills me to see my department heads attracting and building such solid teams as we continue to evolve the studio.”
Ortiz, who now reports to head of physical production Debra Bergman, has an extensive background as a producer and unit production manager in TV and film. Series he has worked on include “Titans,” “Salvation,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “The Beguiled,” “American Ultra,” “Homefront,” and others. Previously based in New York, he is now working out of Paramount’s L.A. office.
Agboh,...
“I’m so excited to welcome these new valuable executives to Paramount,” said Paramount TV president Nicole Clemens in a statement. “It thrills me to see my department heads attracting and building such solid teams as we continue to evolve the studio.”
Ortiz, who now reports to head of physical production Debra Bergman, has an extensive background as a producer and unit production manager in TV and film. Series he has worked on include “Titans,” “Salvation,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “The Beguiled,” “American Ultra,” “Homefront,” and others. Previously based in New York, he is now working out of Paramount’s L.A. office.
Agboh,...
- 6/19/2019
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Paramount Television has promoted Ken Basin to head of business affairs for the division, while former Netflix exec Liz Miller has been hired as Senior Vice President of Production. Basin replaces David Goldman, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities. Basin will report to Nicole Clemens, President of Paramount Television. Miller will report to Executive Vice President of Production, Debra Bergman.
In January, Basin was promoted to Evp of Business Affairs for Paramount Television, taking on expanded responsibilities in connection with the division’s business strategy and operations. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the division, managing dealmaking for key studio projects such as 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) and Catch-22 (Hulu). Before joining Paramount, Basin was Vice President, U.S. Business Affairs for Sony Pictures Television, and before that, a Business Affairs Executive and later Co-Head of Business Affairs at Amazon Studios. Before joining Amazon,...
In January, Basin was promoted to Evp of Business Affairs for Paramount Television, taking on expanded responsibilities in connection with the division’s business strategy and operations. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the division, managing dealmaking for key studio projects such as 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) and Catch-22 (Hulu). Before joining Paramount, Basin was Vice President, U.S. Business Affairs for Sony Pictures Television, and before that, a Business Affairs Executive and later Co-Head of Business Affairs at Amazon Studios. Before joining Amazon,...
- 4/25/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Television has promoted Ken Basin to head of business affairs following the departure of David Goldman, the studio announced on Wednesday.
Goldman, who was promoted to head of business affairs last year, has stepped down from his post to “pursue other opportunities,” the studio said. Basin will step in for Goldman and take lead of the division just months after rising to the executive vice president level in January.
“Ken is an indispensable part of our team–a brilliant mind and great leader–and I couldn’t be more excited to have him oversee this arm of our division,” said Paramount TV president Nicole Clemens, to whom Basin will now report.
Also Read: Paramount TV Hires Jenna Santoianni and Cheryl Bosnak as Part of Executive Restructure
The move continues the executive shake-up at the studio under the leadership of Clemens, who was named president of Paramount Television in September...
Goldman, who was promoted to head of business affairs last year, has stepped down from his post to “pursue other opportunities,” the studio said. Basin will step in for Goldman and take lead of the division just months after rising to the executive vice president level in January.
“Ken is an indispensable part of our team–a brilliant mind and great leader–and I couldn’t be more excited to have him oversee this arm of our division,” said Paramount TV president Nicole Clemens, to whom Basin will now report.
Also Read: Paramount TV Hires Jenna Santoianni and Cheryl Bosnak as Part of Executive Restructure
The move continues the executive shake-up at the studio under the leadership of Clemens, who was named president of Paramount Television in September...
- 4/25/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Paramount Pictures has laid off about 20 staffers in the Viacom film studio’s Finance, Legal, Business & Legal Affairs and Television teams. The cuts happened Tuesday and were detailed in a memo by Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert.
Sources say the total number of layoffs includes some open positions, and impacts about 1.5% of the studio’s total staff.
The layoffs came the same day Paramount announced promotions and a hire in its Paramount TV division as that unit restructures under Nicole Clemens, who was appointed president of Paramount TV in September. Among those noted yesterday: Debra Bergman was upped to Evp/Head of Physical Production and Ken Basin to Evp of Business Affairs. Robert West was hired as VP Production.
Variety was first to note the layoffs today.
Gumpert said in the memo the changes come amid Viacom’s “significant transformation effort to ensure we’re running our business as efficiently as...
Sources say the total number of layoffs includes some open positions, and impacts about 1.5% of the studio’s total staff.
The layoffs came the same day Paramount announced promotions and a hire in its Paramount TV division as that unit restructures under Nicole Clemens, who was appointed president of Paramount TV in September. Among those noted yesterday: Debra Bergman was upped to Evp/Head of Physical Production and Ken Basin to Evp of Business Affairs. Robert West was hired as VP Production.
Variety was first to note the layoffs today.
Gumpert said in the memo the changes come amid Viacom’s “significant transformation effort to ensure we’re running our business as efficiently as...
- 1/30/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Pictures laid off 20 staff members in its TV, finance, legal, and business departments on Tuesday as part of a restructuring effort at the Viacom-owned studio, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap on Wednesday.
Paramount Chief Operating Officer Andrew Gumpert addressed the staffing cuts in a memo to employees obtained by TheWrap, stating that the “changes” are intended to help “streamline efficiency, foster talent across multiple divisions of the company, and augment synergy and cross-functionality amongst different teams.”
“As you all are aware, a year ago Viacom kicked off a significant transformation effort to ensure we’re running our business as efficiently as we can – to both save more money, and ensure we can invest in new areas of growth,” Gumpert wrote. “With that comes some exciting, but also necessary changes, including for our studio. In pursuit of this mandate, we have taken a thoughtful and...
Paramount Chief Operating Officer Andrew Gumpert addressed the staffing cuts in a memo to employees obtained by TheWrap, stating that the “changes” are intended to help “streamline efficiency, foster talent across multiple divisions of the company, and augment synergy and cross-functionality amongst different teams.”
“As you all are aware, a year ago Viacom kicked off a significant transformation effort to ensure we’re running our business as efficiently as we can – to both save more money, and ensure we can invest in new areas of growth,” Gumpert wrote. “With that comes some exciting, but also necessary changes, including for our studio. In pursuit of this mandate, we have taken a thoughtful and...
- 1/30/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Paramount Pictures laid off roughly 20 staff members from several departments on Tuesday as part of a restructuring effort, insiders familiar with the matter told Variety.
Departments including legal, business affairs, TV and finance were affected. Cuts were not major and largely affected back-office staff. Paramount chief operating officer Andrew Gumpert addressed the matter in a memo to employees.
The cuts will “streamline efficiency, foster talent across multiple divisions of the company, and augment synergy and cross-functionality amongst different teams,” read the memo obtained by Variety.
A studio spokesperson confirmed the cuts but declined to comment further. There were additional hires and promotions as part of the restructuring. Robert West was hired as VP of production at Paramount TV; Debra Bergman was elevated to head of physical production in that department; and Ken Basin was promoted to Evp of business affairs.
Read the full text of the memo:
Dear All,
As you all are aware,...
Departments including legal, business affairs, TV and finance were affected. Cuts were not major and largely affected back-office staff. Paramount chief operating officer Andrew Gumpert addressed the matter in a memo to employees.
The cuts will “streamline efficiency, foster talent across multiple divisions of the company, and augment synergy and cross-functionality amongst different teams,” read the memo obtained by Variety.
A studio spokesperson confirmed the cuts but declined to comment further. There were additional hires and promotions as part of the restructuring. Robert West was hired as VP of production at Paramount TV; Debra Bergman was elevated to head of physical production in that department; and Ken Basin was promoted to Evp of business affairs.
Read the full text of the memo:
Dear All,
As you all are aware,...
- 1/30/2019
- by Brent Lang and Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Debra Bergman and Ken Basin have been promoted to executive VP rank at Paramount Television.
Bergman will serve as head of physical production, reporting to Paramount Television president Nicole Clemens. Basin has advanced in business affairs, reporting to David Goldman, Paramount Television’s president of business operations.
In addition, Robert West has been named VP of production.
“I am thrilled to have this talented stable of executives bringing their remarkable tastes, business acumen and visions to Paramount Television as we position it for continued growth and success,” said Clemens, who joined the studio in September. “I am confident that each member of this team brings a depth of experience and relationships that will produce a unique alchemy to continue to evolve this company for the future.”
Bergman, previously senior VP, has been with Paramount since 2017. She was responsible for overseeing production for such series as Netflix’s “Maniac,” Epix’s...
Bergman will serve as head of physical production, reporting to Paramount Television president Nicole Clemens. Basin has advanced in business affairs, reporting to David Goldman, Paramount Television’s president of business operations.
In addition, Robert West has been named VP of production.
“I am thrilled to have this talented stable of executives bringing their remarkable tastes, business acumen and visions to Paramount Television as we position it for continued growth and success,” said Clemens, who joined the studio in September. “I am confident that each member of this team brings a depth of experience and relationships that will produce a unique alchemy to continue to evolve this company for the future.”
Bergman, previously senior VP, has been with Paramount since 2017. She was responsible for overseeing production for such series as Netflix’s “Maniac,” Epix’s...
- 1/29/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Paramount Television has promoted Debra Bergman to Evp/Head of Physical Production and Ken Basin to Evp of Business Affairs; and hired Robert West as VP of Production.
In Bergman’s new role, she will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of physical production. She joined Paramount Television in 2017 as Svp, Production, where she was in charge of overseeing production for various TV series, including Maniac, Berlin Station, Shantaram, and Untitled Hilde Lysiak Project, among others. Prior to Paramount, Bergman served as Svp, Scripted Production for FremantleMedia North America.
Bergman will report to Paramount Television President, Nicole Clemens.
Basin previously served as Svp of Business Affairs at Paramount Television, where he has been responsible for negotiating deals with talent, producers, and licensees in support of the company’s original television series. Prior to joining Paramount, Basin was Vice President, U.S. Business Affairs for Sony Pictures Television, where he served...
In Bergman’s new role, she will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of physical production. She joined Paramount Television in 2017 as Svp, Production, where she was in charge of overseeing production for various TV series, including Maniac, Berlin Station, Shantaram, and Untitled Hilde Lysiak Project, among others. Prior to Paramount, Bergman served as Svp, Scripted Production for FremantleMedia North America.
Bergman will report to Paramount Television President, Nicole Clemens.
Basin previously served as Svp of Business Affairs at Paramount Television, where he has been responsible for negotiating deals with talent, producers, and licensees in support of the company’s original television series. Prior to joining Paramount, Basin was Vice President, U.S. Business Affairs for Sony Pictures Television, where he served...
- 1/29/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
As a veteran of Amazon Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and now Paramount TV, Ken Basin has seen it all when it comes to crafting the deals that put series on the air. That’s why he’s written the new book, “The Business of Television,” which reflects just how dramatically the economics of the industry are changing.
In this week’s episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Basin shares his predictions on where Hollywood is headed, particularly as it relates to the peak-tv phenomenon. “The pace of growth of what we are seeing in the industry is unsustainable, and I do think there will be a tipping point,” he said, citing decreasing levels in scripted series already registering at broadcast and cable networks.
While streaming giants should send the scripted total north of 500 series in the coming years, the growth of the tech companies will contribute to “a vacating...
In this week’s episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Basin shares his predictions on where Hollywood is headed, particularly as it relates to the peak-tv phenomenon. “The pace of growth of what we are seeing in the industry is unsustainable, and I do think there will be a tipping point,” he said, citing decreasing levels in scripted series already registering at broadcast and cable networks.
While streaming giants should send the scripted total north of 500 series in the coming years, the growth of the tech companies will contribute to “a vacating...
- 7/31/2018
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
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