TV Kids Summer Festival 2024

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BY MANSHA DASWANI

Back to Basics

What’s ruling the roost for the elusive 6-to-9 set in 2024? Apparently, the same show that was dominating kids’ attention in 1999. According to the trend trackers at Dubit, the antics of an enthusiastic sea sponge and his coterie of ocean besties continue to charm audiences, 25 years since SpongeBob SquarePants arrived on Nickelodeon and became a co-viewing hit. Alongside SpongeBob in the ranking is Bluey, which has set the standard for the perfect family sitcom that appeals to children and parents alike. PAW Patrol, on the air since 2013, is still striking a chord, as is Pokémon, so it’s no wonder that in a time of audience erosion and budget cuts, known IP is in demand. Co-viewing and the difficulties of launching new IP are key themes of the fourth edition of the TV Kids Summer Festival, with almost 30 speakers weighing in on surviving and thriving in a market in the midst of transition. Our trademark opening session on buyers is back to deliver the intel you need on what programmers need today. David W. Kleeman, in conversation with kids’ media expert Emily Horgan, will showcase new Dubit research on what kids are watching and how they are discovering content. We have panels on financing, windowing, rebooting IP and co-productions, and keynotes with the likes of Olivier Dumont, Ramsey Naito, Keith Chapman and more. Sessions will be available on www.TVKidsSummerFestival.com , and we’ll release the entire virtual conference as a podcast after the event wraps. Enjoy the show!

The only video portal for the kids’ media industry.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

9 a.m. EDT Buyer Briefing

KiKA’s Sebastian Debertin, M6 Group’s Coralie

Boitrelle-Laigle, RTÉ’s Suzanne Kelly and Sandbox Group’s Ellen Solberg discuss their programming strategies.

10:30 a.m. EDT In the Know with Dubit

Dubit’s David W. Kleeman will showcase new research on kids’ content trends and discuss the challenges of discoverability and brand-building today in conversation with children’s media expert Emily Horgan.

12 p.m. EDT Hasbro Entertainment’s Olivier Dumont

As president of Hasbro Entertainment, Olivier Dumont leads the unit tasked with adapting the toy giant’s beloved brands across multiple mediums.

1:30 p.m. EDT Better Together

Serious Kids’ Genevieve Dexter, Dandelooo’s

Emmanuèle Pétry, DeAPlaneta Entertainment’s

Carlos Biern and The Co-Production Company’s Doug Schwalbe will discuss co-productions.

3 p.m. EDT Paramount’s Ramsey Naito

Ramsey Naito, the president of animation for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, will weigh in on the strengths of Paramount’s animated output across television, film and digital and the keys to franchise building in this keynote address.

David W. Kleeman

Emily Horgan

Sebastian Debertin Coralie BoitrelleLaigle

Suzanne Kelly Ellen Solberg

Olivier Dumont

Genevieve Dexter Emmanuèle Pétry

Carlos Biern Doug Schwalbe

Ramsey Naito

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

9 a.m. EDT Watching Windows

We will spotlight successful windowing strategies being used to maximize the long-tail value of content with HARI’s Sophie “Kido” Prigent, PBS Distribution’s Joe Barrett and Thunderbird Entertainment’s Richard Goldsmith

10:30 a.m. EDT pocket.watch’s Albie Hecht

Albie Hecht, chief content officer of pocket.watch, will offer up his views on the keys to success in the creator economy.

12 p.m. EDT Disney Branded Television’s Alyssa Sapire

Alyssa Sapire will showcase what’s driving the success of The Walt Disney Company’s preschool service, Disney Jr.

1:30 p.m. EDT Known IP

Sesame Workshop’s Kay Wilson Stallings, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family’s Tom Beattie and ZDF Studios’ Oliver

Grundel will share tips and tricks for maintaining long-running franchises and rebooting beloved classics.

3 p.m. EDT Keith Chapman

The creator of such iconic brands as Bob the Builder and PAW Patrol , Keith Chapman will talk about navigating the kids’ content landscape today.

Keith Chapman

Albie Hecht

Kay Wilson Stallings Tom Beattie Oliver Grundel

Sophie “Kido” Prigent Joe Barrett Richard Goldsmith

Alyssa Sapire

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

9 a.m. EDT TV Kids Pioneer Award: Adina Pitt

For her outstanding contributions to the children’s media business, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Adina Pitt will be presented the TV Kids Pioneer Award as she shares her approach to acquisitions and co-productions.

10:30 a.m. EDT Cyber Group Toons In

An inside look at Cyber Group Studios with Dominique Bourse, chairman and CEO; Raphaëlle Mathieu, COO; and Pierre Belaïsch, chief creative officer.

12 p.m. EDT Nina Hahn

Industry veteran Nina Hahn, a Nickelodeon alum who has now founded the consultancy Luna Bean Partners, will articulate her thoughts on where the kids’ media business is headed.

1:30 p.m. EDT Marc Brown

Creator Marc Brown , behind the long-running success Arthur , will share the message of celebrating uniqueness in his new show Hop .

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

SCREENINGS DAY

Visit www.tvkidssummerfestival.com beginning at 9 a.m. EDT to screen a range of trailers from our sponsors and partners.

Adina Pitt

Dominique Bourse Raphaëlle Mathieu Pierre Belaïsch

Nina Hahn

Marc Brown

Joe Barrett VP, Global Sales PBS Distribution

Joe Barrett has been at PBS Distribution for over eight years and currently leads sales strategy and execution for international broadcast and digital program sales for kids and factual. He also oversees U.S. sales and strategy for PBS Distribution’s TVOD, education, e-commerce and retail business in general audience, kids and drama.

Barrett got his start in U.S. content distribution with Sony Pictures Entertainment. After an initial tenure there, Bar rett joined 20th Century Fox’s home entertainment division, where he spent the next 18 years in several sales and distribution roles, most recently as senior VP of sales and strategy for North America.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 9 a.m. EDT Watching Windows

Tom Beattie started his career in advertising as a creative before moving into live-action film production. After managing commercials and music video productions for various brands and bands, from Pot Noodle to U2, Beattie transferred his skills to animation and children’s TV production. Beattie joined Tiger Aspect Productions in 2001, and in 2021, he headed up the newly created Tiger Aspect Kids & Family and its move to the Banijay Kids & Family division.

Beattie oversees the Mr Bean brand and is a producer of Mr Bean: The Animated Series . He also created the CBBC live-action series Danny and Mick . Other credits include Charlie and Lola (BBC/Disney), Tinga Tinga Tales (BBC/Disney), Aliens Love Underpants (Sky Kids), Corpse Talk (YouTube original) and Super Happy Magic Forest (BBC/Rai Kids/CANAL+/ZDF/ABC).

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. EDT Known IP

Tiger Aspect Kids & Family

Tom Beattie Managing Director

Pierre Belaïsch Chief Creative Officer Cyber Group Studios

Prior to his experience at Cyber Group Stu dios, Pierre Belaïsch spent six years at Gaumont Animation as the company’s COO; 11 years at Lagardère Active as general manager of programming and broadcasting; two years at TF1; and eight years at Leo Burnett.

Belaïsch spent five years as the senior VP of creative development at Cyber Group Studios. During his tenure, series such as 50/50 Heroes, Press Start! , Alex Player , La Sterne and The McFire Family were developed. In his current role, on top of his artistic development assignments, he oversees the creative affairs of Cyber Group Studios, ensuring that each series meets client expectations and resonates with the target audience.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. EDT Cyber Group Toons In

Carlos Biern is an executive producer and creator of animated projects across film, TV and interactive. He started his first animation production in 1994 and is always searching for the best national and international talent to develop global and interactive brands.

Biern currently serves as director of content and distribution for kids and family at DeAPlaneta Entertainment, which is owned by Grupo Planeta and De Agostini and has a presence in more than 30 countries. For almost a decade, he was the president of DIBOOS, the Spanish federation of animation and visual effects producers.

Biern was formerly with Toonz Media Group and BRB Internacional. His experience includes over 30 co-productions made in studios in Europe, North America and Asia. He started working at private TV networks in Spain with Telecinco and Antena 3 in the acquisitions and marketing departments.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 1:30 p.m. EDT Better Together

Carlos Biern Director, Content & Distribution, Kids & Family DeAPlaneta Entertainment

Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle Director, Youth, France M6 Group

In 2008, Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle joined the TF1 Group as a program advisor for the youth section before taking charge of the development of live programs and shows. After two years consulting at GRDF, Boitrelle-Laigle joined the Lagardère Group in 2018, where she held the position of youth animation program advisor for Gulli, Canal J and TiJi. These three channels were acquired by the M6 Group in September 2019.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m. EDT Buyer Briefing

Dominique Bourse, an entertainment industry veteran with 30-plus years of experience, co-founded Cyber Group Studios in 2005 after a 14-year tenure at The Walt Disney Company. He served as Cyber Group Studios’ COO for 17 years before becoming chairman and CEO.

Cyber Group Studios is a multi-award-winning global independent producer and distributor of kids’ animated programs for TV, streaming platforms and social media. Its mission is to create great stories and experiences that inspire kids today to create a better world. Cyber Group Studios has 300 employees and six studios across three continents, in France, the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Singapore.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. EDT Cyber Group Toons In

Dominique Bourse Chairman & CEO Cyber Group Studios

Marc Brown Creator

Marc Brown is the creator of Arthur , the New York Times best-selling series of books, and the author or illustrator of more than 140 other books for children. He is also the executive producer of the PBS KIDS television series Arthur. This year, his new show Hop, a younger continuation of Arthur, premiered on Max.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 1:30 p.m. EDT Keynote

The renowned creator of award-winning, globally famous kids’ IP, including smash hits PAW Patrol—the world’s most successful preschool series with two theatrical movies launched in 2021 and 2023 and a third due in 2026—and Bob the Builder. Chapman is currently developing or in production on several TV, movie, NFT, theatrical and publishing projects for toy and TV production companies, animation studios, publishers and global brands worldwide. Chapman’s recent preschool shows are Mighty Express , produced by Spin Master Entertainment and launched on Netflix in September 2020, and Jonny Jetboy , produced by WildBrain and China’s i QIYI , due to launch this year.

Chapman’s environmentally themed family movie Ozi: Voice of the Forest, animated by Mikros Animation, has Hollywood legends Mike Medavoy and Leonardo DiCaprio on board as producers. Voice talent includes Laura Dern, Donald Sutherland, Dji mon Hounsou, RuPaul and Amandla Stenberg. The movie will launch in cinemas in August 2024. Chapman’s creations have generated global sales of $22 billion to date.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 3 p.m. EDT Keynote

Keith Chapman Creator

Sebastian Debertin Head, International Content Acquisitions, Programming & Management Department KiKA

In November 1996, Sebastian Debertin helped to create and establish KiKA, the joint public kids’ channel of ARD and ZDF. Within the Program mgeschäftsführung, which is responsible for the management and programming of KiKA, Debertin searches for and identifies new projects and programs. He is responsible for all international acquisitions and co-productions for fiction and, since the beginning of 2020, also for nonfiction and preschool programs. He oversees KiKA’s international business affairs, all contract negotiations with national and international program partners and the management of KiKA’s international contacts within the media landscape. Before that, he spent over 20 years as the head of fiction, acquisitions and coproductions at the pubcaster.

As executive producer, Debertin is co-producing the new The Smurfs series in collaboration with TF1, IMPS-Peyo, RTBF and Dupuis. Additionally, he is working as a tutor and speaker at several media institutions and universities in Germany and worldwide.

Debertin received the inaugural TV Kids Pioneer Award and a World Screen Kids Trendsetter Award.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m. EDT Buyer Briefing

Genevieve Dexter has worked in the kids’ IP sector for 30 years, launching many successful programs in the international market, including Operation Ouch! ; The Ghastly Ghoul ; Total Drama Island ; and Ronja, the Rob ber’s Daughter. She is the executive producer of Best & Bester, Tee and Mo, Messy Goes to Okido, Horrible Science , Angelo Rules and many more. She is a serial entrepreneur and was also the founder of CAKE.

Serious Kids, established in 2011, represents a portfolio of high-quality IP from Oscar-, BAFTAand Emmy Award-winning producers as well as upcoming studios. The company’s latest titles include The Sound Collector from Eagle Vs Bat for CITV and Rai, Flix from Pictor Productions/Eye Present for RTÉ and The Ghastly Ghoul from Dream Logic Studios/Lupus Films for Sky and KiKA. These new titles join a select stable of highprofile IP, including the double BAFTA winner and International Emmy nominee Operation Ouch! , now in its 12th season for CBBC, and the International Emmy Award-winning Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter (Studio Ghibli/Astrid Lindgren Company), directed by Goro Miyazaki.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 1:30 p.m. EDT Better Together

Genevieve Dexter Founder & CEO Serious Kids

Olivier Dumont President Hasbro Entertainment

Ol ivier Dumont leverages Hasbro’s leading collection of iconic brands to develop, produce and distribute premium film, television, animation and digital content for audiences of all ages. Unifying Hasbro’s robust production and distribution expertise under one umbrella, Hasbro Entertainment is focused on creating multiplatform adaptations of the company’s priority brands, including Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, Monopoly, Clue, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Transformers. Dumont previously served as president of family brands at eOne prior to its acquisition by Hasbro, managing all kids’ entertainment, brand and con sumer-products activities. Under his leadership, year ly retail revenues generated by eOne’s hit preschool property Peppa Pig have surpassed $1.35 billion, and PJ Masks ’ revenues have hit $1.15 billion. Before eOne, Dumont was managing director of TV-Loonland. He was previously managing director of Saban International Paris. His career in television and kids’ programming began in 1993 when he joined international distributor Europe Images International. He also worked at Canal J and was responsible for acquisitions and co-productions.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 12 p.m. EDT Keynote

Richard Goldsmith oversees distribution to worldwide media platforms and related consumer products and experiences for Thunderbird Entertainment’s productions, including kids’ and family series from Atomic Cartoons and third-par ty series represented by Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands. Previously, he founded and led the U.S. subsidiary of Cyber Group Stu dios. He is an accomplished business executive in the television and animation industries who has led production, development, media distribution, licensing and merchandising and business development at companies including The Walt Dis ney Company, Warner Bros., The Jim Henson Company and Univision Communications.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 9 a.m. EDT Watching Windows

Richard Goldsmith President, Global Distribution & Consumer Products Atomic Cartoons & Thunderbird Entertainment

Oliver Grundel Director Junior ZDF Studios

Olive r Grundel began his professional career at ZDF Studios in 2006. He was initially responsible for licensing and merchandising activities for ZDF’s program brands across all genres. From 2010 to 2012, he focused on the management and worldwide exploitation of all children’s themes in the ZDF Studios portfolio. From January 2013, Grundel was sales manager for German-speaking countries, responsible for the digital strategy of the ZDF Studios Junior division, and oversaw exploitation activities as the official KiKA agency. In April 2018, Grundel took over activities in the DACH market as sales and acquisition director, in close cooperation with the parent company ZDF, ZDF’s main editorial department for children and youth, and KiKA, Germany’s leading provider of children’s content. He was also responsible for key international accounts. In November 2023, Grundel took over distribution in Englishspeaking territories and the management of selected international co-productions. He plays a central role in the division’s global sales activities, is actively involved in the strategic direction of acquisitions and co-productions and contributes his experience in key account management and brand building to ensure the best possible marketing of ZDF Studios’ IPs across all platforms.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. EDT Known IP

Nina Hahn is a dynamic and influential figure in the international entertainment industry, renowned for her global creative vision and strategic leadership in the children’s content space. With over three decades of experience, Hahn has carved out a distinguished career marked by innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to fostering inclusive global storytelling and strategic partnerships.

Previously, Hahn served as senior VP of production and development, global kids and family, at Nickelodeon. Prior to Nickelodeon, Hahn held senior executive roles at Noggin, HBO, The Jim Henson Company and Sunbow Entertainment.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 12 p.m. EDT Keynote

Nina Hahn Founder & President Luna Bean Partners

Albie Hecht

Chief Content Officer pocket.watch

At pocket.watch, Albie Hecht oversees a studio creating content for over 45 of the biggest kids’ and family YouTube creators, adding up to over 40,000 hours of content available for distribution. Hecht has developed and produced a slate of new original series and specials for pock et.watch from the world’s most popular kids’ and family creators. These originals first premiered on Ryan and Friends Plus, pocket.watch’s premium subscription channel, which became the largest independent kids’ and family SVOD in 2023, with active subscribers growing by more than 50 percent year-on-year. Hecht also produced and directed pocket.watch’s first full-length feature film, Ryan’s World The Movie: Titan Universe Adventure. As an executive producer and creator at pocket.watch, Hecht spearheaded Ryan’s Mystery Playdate and developed and produced hits such as Love, Diana; Onyx Family Dinner; and HobbyKids Adventures. As president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, Hecht oversaw the development and production of SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues , All That , Kenan & Kel and The Naked Broth ers Band, and co-created and executive produced The Kids’ Choice Awards.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 10:30 a.m. EDT Keynote

Emily Horgan has an extensive background in managing the intersection of content distribution and consumer products for household franchises, including Star Wars, Marvel, Disney Princess and Mickey Mouse. She has written extensively about the kids’ media space on Netflix and YouTube and how to manage kids’ franchises in the new streaming world. Her articles are pub lished through her newsletter, The Kids StreamerSphere , in addition to many other outlets. Her work with current clients includes YouTube strategy, IP development, landscape analysis and franchise consultancy.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 10:30 a.m. EDT In the Know with Dubit

Emily Horgan Independent Media Consultant

Suzanne Kelly

Head,

Children’s & Young People’s Content

RTÉ

Suzan ne Kelly has headed up the RTÉ children’s division since 2018, responsible for all content created and commissioned across video, audio and digital platforms for kids and young people. The RTÉ kids’ team is dedicated to delivering top-quality content for its audience and ensuring they are represented and given a voice. Kelly works hand in hand with the Irish liveaction and animation sectors to deliver stand-out moments for TV, audio and online. Recent commissions include Space Camp Challenge , Flix , Maddie + Triggs, Louise Lives Large, Fia’s Fairies and the award-winning podcast series Cereal. Before joining RTÉ, Kelly worked as an independent producer and director, creating and developing program formats, scriptwriting, producing and directing in the studio and on location for linear and digital platforms.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m. EDT Buyer Briefing

Astrategist, analyst, author, speaker and con nector, David W. Kleeman has led the children’s media industry in developing sustainable, child-friendly practices for more than three decades. He began this work as president of the American Center for Children and Media and is now senior VP of global trends for Dubit, a strategy and research consultancy and games studio.

When he began this work, “children’s media” meant television. Today, he is fascinated by and passionate about kids’ wide range of possibilities for entertainment, engagement, play and learning. Kleeman uses research, insights and experience to show that much may change, but children’s developmental paths and needs remain constant.

Kleeman is advisory board chair to the international children’s TV festival PRIX JEUNESSE, on the board of the Children’s Media Association and the advisory board of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. In 2023, he was in the inaugural class of Children’s & Family Emmys Silver Circle inductees for 25- plus years of service.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 10:30 a.m. EDT In the Know with Dubit

David W. Kleeman

Senior VP, Global Trends

Dubit

Raphaëlle Mathieu

COO

Cyber Group Studios

With over two decades of expertise in the audiovisual field, Raphaëlle Mathieu has been involved in the creation of television and feature animation production companies. Mathieu spent six years as senior VP of sales, acquisitions and new media at Cyber Group Studios, a leading animation company based in France, the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Singapore. Since she joined the company in 2016, Mathieu, a company board member, has been promoted to executive VP and then to COO in 2023, succeeding Dominique Bourse, who was named chairman and CEO of the company.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. EDT Cyber Group Toons In

As president of animation for Paramount Ani mation, a role which she assumed in September 2021, Ramsey Naito oversees all of the animation group’s operations from development through theatrical release. Naito previously served as executive VP of Paramount Animation.

At Paramount Animation, Naito’s oversight includes developing and ushering Paramount film titles. At Nickelodeon, Naito oversees animation content across all formats and platforms, spanning linear, digital, TV movies, theatrical motion pictures and SVOD. Since joining the network in 2018, Naito has overseen a renaissance at the studio of animated content and production in scale and creativity. Naito has transformed Nickelodeon Animation’s pipeline from six projects to over 70 series and movies while emerging to launch hits on Paramount+, which have helped build the platform to the fastest growing streaming service in the U.S. Simultaneously, Naito manages the day-to-day operations of Nickelodeon’s current series and development slate, overseeing the network’s key franchises.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 3 p.m. EDT Keynote

Ramsey Naito President, Animation

Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Animation

Emmanuèle Pétry

Producer & Head,

Distribution

Dandelooo

Emmanuèle Pétry started her career in animation as the head of Nelvana’s European office in Paris, in charge of co-productions and international sales. In 2010, she joined forces with Jean-Baptiste Wery to create Dandelooo in order to develop, produce and distribute The Tree house Stories and other unique programs such as Mum is Pouring Rain and book-based animated jewels like Billy the Cowboy Hamster.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 1:30 p.m. EDT Better Together

Adina Pitt is responsible for identifying, negotiating and acquiring series, specials, movies and short-form products that fit Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids’ and family brands for exposure across all platforms. She continues to oversee those programs once they have been acquired and positioned at each network. Pitt also serves as a liaison internationally to coordinate global acquisition contracts, and she represents the U.S. networks at all major programming markets, including MIPCOM and NATPE Global.

Previously, Pitt was VP of acquisitions for Nick elodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. In this position, she developed acquisition strategies that supported current and long-term programming plans for Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick at Nite, The N and Noggin. She also oversaw channel inventory, cable and network television series and movie deals, competitive pricing, theatrical and made-for-TV movie availability and competitive inventories, both domestically and globally. She previously worked in film programming acquisitions at HBO.

SESSION

Thursday, June 6, 9 a.m. EDT TV Kids Pioneer Award

Adina Pitt VP, Content Acquisitions, Partnerships & Co-Productions, Kids & Family, U.S. Warner Bros. Discovery

Sophie

“Kido”

Prigent Head, Distribution HARI

Sophie “Kido” Prigent joined the kids’ industry in 2010, holding various sales roles at Cookie Jar Entertainment. Following its acquisition by DHX Media (now WildBrain), she became a territory manager and, for another seven years, handled the sales of 13,000 halfhours of content. In 2019, Prigent joined Jetpack Distribution as sales director and was quickly promoted to global head of sales. In 2023, she joined the multi-award-winning French studio HARI (creator of Grizzy & the Lemmings, the most aired French animated show in many parts of the world) as its head of distribution, where she is responsible for financing, sales and global distribution strategy, working closely with the brand teams to find the perfect homes for the studio’s much-loved feature-quality properties as they expand their footprints across the globe.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 9 a.m. EDT Watching Windows

Reporting to Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, Alyssa Sapire oversees the development and production of premium original content for preschoolers and families across Disney+, Disney Jr. and Disney Channel.

Since joining Disney in 2016, Sapire has led the charge on the most cherished programming and franchises for preschoolers, including SuperKitties, 2023’s most-watched new series for kids 2 to 5, and was instrumental in the development of the Disney animated series Monsters at Work, inspired by the world of Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. She and her teams work closely with partners across The Walt Disney Company to introduce beloved Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm characters to new generations, with shows like Mickey Mouse Funhouse, Playdate with Winnie the Pooh, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Lucasfilm’s first preschool series. Sapire also shepherded the popular holiday-themed stopmotion specials Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats and Mickey’s Christmas Tales. As a result, in 2023, Disney Jr. (recently rebranded from Disney Junior) was the number one cable network for kids 2 to 5 for the second straight year and the number one 24-hour preschool network for the 11th straight year.

SESSION Wednesday, June 5, 12 p.m. EDT Keynote

Alyssa Sapire Senior VP, Development, Series & Strategy, Disney Jr. Disney Branded Television

Doug Schwalbe Founder

The Co-Production Company

The Co-Production Company is a boutique production company specializing in finance and distribution arrangements for international television series and features. In 2022, The Co-Production Company was acquired by Superprod.

Schwalbe founded The Co-Production Company in 2021 after eight years with DreamWorks Animation, where, as senior VP of co-productions, he oversaw over $100 million in international production finance for end users Netflix, Apple, Universal Kids and Peacock. Prior to DreamWorks, from 2002 to 2012, he was executive VP and managing director of private-equity-backed IP aggregator Classic Media, which was acquired by DreamWorks in 2012. He has also held senior program sales and co-production positions with HBO and 20th Century Fox International TV.

As an independent producer and distributor, Schwalbe has produced over 200 hours of franchise television.

SESSION

Tuesday, June 4, 1:30 p.m. EDT Better Together

Ellen Solberg oversees the content strat egy at Sandbox Group and formerly did so at Hop ster. She has worked with a range of distribution companies. She has led the development of several original series for Sandbox Group’s products and was executive producer of Two Minute Tales, the popular short-form animation based on Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Solberg takes pride in discovering beautiful independent productions and working with young artists and budding musicians.

Sandbox Group is a global digital entertainment and learning company committed to providing unparalleled experiences through video streaming and smart gaming. Sandbox Group’s brands include PlayKids+, the first edutainment app that grows with the kids; Focus, a cognitive training app for over-40s; and Leiturinha, Brazil’s number one kids’ book subscription service. Sandbox partners with 20-plus leading telcos, pay-TV and streaming players globally, including T-Mobile U.S., Prime Video, TIM, Sky Brasil, United Media and more.

SESSION Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m. EDT Buyer Briefing

Ellen Solberg Director, Content Sandbox Group

Kay Wilson Stallings Executive VP & Chief Creative Development & Production Officer

Sesame Workshop

Kay Wilson Stallings oversees Sesame Street and all Sesame Workshop shows as well as the development of new programs and content across existing and emerging platforms. She also leads creative for domestic production and partners with global teams to enrich and expand Sesame Workshop’s presence around the world.

Wilson Stallings greatly expanded Sesame Work shop’s impact through animation, with specials including The Monster at the End of This Story and Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy as well as new shows such as Mecha Builders, the first CGI-animated spin-off of Sesame Street, and the preschool comedy series Bea’s Block. Newly animated literature-based miniseries are in development, beginning with the E.B. White classic Charlotte’s Web. She was most recently the senior VP of creative development at Sesame Workshop.

Wilson Stallings created Sesame Studios, a YouTube channel hosting a broad mix of original stories, songs and other Sesame-quality kids’ content.

Prior to joining Sesame Workshop, Wilson Stallings was senior VP of production and development at Nick Jr.

SESSION

Wednesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. EDT Known IP