Love Nature’s Global General Manager, Carlyn Staudt, will now lead global commissioning across the media company’s streaming and linear channels around the world
Blue Ant Media’s global channels business has expanded rapidly over 12 months, with the launch of four new FAST platforms internationally and Love Nature’s expansion into the U.S. free-streaming market
(Toronto, Canada/Washington, D.C. – January 12, 2023) – International content producer, distributor and channel operator, Blue Ant Media, announced today the promotion of several executives in support of its expanded commissioning capacity across the company’s global channel business. The promotions and hires follow a year filled with significant growth in the free-streaming arena for Blue Ant Media, which has expanded its reach of Love Nature across 12 FAST platforms in the U.S. and has launched four additional global FAST channels, HauntTV, Homeful, Total Crime and HistoryTime.
“As we grow Blue Ant Media’s channel footprint around the world, scaling our original content line-up is critical to ensure we’re delivering brands that are that are both unique and internationally relevant,” said Jamie Schouela, President, Global Media, “Our expanded global commissioning team will focus on creating original series and docs across our key content categories while working with co-production partners to meet their needs.
Love Nature’s Global General Manager, Carlyn Staudt has been promoted to an expanded role as General Manager, Love Nature and Head of Commissioning, Global Media. In this newly created position, she will continue her work heading up the wildlife and nature brand’s strategic direction and operations globally, while now overseeing all commissioning for Blue Ant Media’s free-streaming and linear channels in the U.S., Canada and internationally. Carlyn is tasked with developing and envisioning new content slates for each of these media brands and identifying co-production opportunities for each. Carlyn will continue to work from Blue Ant Media’s Washington, DC office, reporting to Jamie Schouela, President, Global Channels and Media.
As part of these changes, Julie Chang has been promoted to EVP, Business Strategy and Co-productions, Global Media. Julie will oversee commercial deal negotiation and strategic co-production opportunities for Global Media’s original content slate. Further, Julie will be focused on overseeing all business-related operations such as production management that supports the editorial commissioning process. Sam Linton has been promoted to VP, Production and Development, Global Media. Sam will serve as the main point of contact for production companies as they develop and produce high quality content for Blue Ant’s Canadian Networks and growing global streaming brands. She will provide creative leadership and be responsible for the editorial execution from development through production for Global Media’s slate of original programming. Alison Barrat will continue in her role as SVP, Production and Development, Love Nature. Julie, Sam and Alison all report to Carlyn Staudt, General Manager, Love Nature and Head of Commissioning, Global Media.
James Manfull has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, Love Nature. James’ vast experience as an executive producer, and expertise in finding strong natural history stories and returnable hits, will be core to his responsibilities in growing the brand’s pipeline of fresh, original series and documentaries. In this new role, James continues to report to Alison Barrat, SVP, Production and Development, Love Nature. As part of Love Nature’s expansion, Katie Bauer Murdock has joined the wildlife and nature brand as Executive Producer, reporting to Alison Barrat. She arrives at Love Nature with a wealth of experience in natural history film production, as well as a proven track record in science and exploration filmmaking. Prior to joining Love Nature, she held production roles at National Geographic where her films were broadcast on National Geographic Channel and streamed on Disney+.
Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator. We own and operate numerous production companies in North America and Asia-Pacific, creating content for broadcasters and streaming platforms in multiple genres including factual entertainment, natural history, documentary and adult animation. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a substantial catalog of content, including one of the world’s largest 4K natural history offerings. Blue Ant Media operates linear and free streaming channels under several brands including Love Nature, Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada), BBC First (Canada), HauntTV, Total Crime, Homeful and HistoryTime. Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with eight international offices in Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, London, Washington, Mumbai and Beijing. Blueantmedia.com Twitter⼁Instagram⼁LinkedIn