Corporate
November 24, 2020
Amy Friedman Named Head of Kids & Family Programming, Warner Bros.
Previously appointed as Senior Advisor by Ascheim to assume programming and creative responsibilities for Cartoon Network, Friedman will add content portfolio plans to her role. This includes strategy for new and current series, acquisitions, and co-productions globally for kids and family across the WarnerMedia portfolio of kids brands while working in close collaboration with the animation studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. Her executive content team is led by Vishnu Athreya, leading Program Planning and Current Series, and Adina Pitt, who has a newly expanded role leading Content Acquisitions, Partnerships and Co-Productions for the Americas. Both will report directly into Friedman, who will also be building a small creative team in Los Angeles and New York.
“For all the years I have known Amy, she has always exemplified what it means to be a successful and respected leader in the kids' sphere. Her wit and humor rival her sharp creative, business and brand acumen, and she knows what kids of all ages and parents want,” said Ascheim. “In today's immensely cluttered entertainment space, Amy's commitment to deeply original, inclusive programming will grow our preschool, kids and family offering across our portfolio of brands.”
Friedman added: “It's a thrill to be reunited with Tom, and to join a team of creatives who are rightly respected as the best of the best. It's unusual to feel immediately at home at a place I've never been before, but I do! To be part of WarnerMedia's next chapter of growth and to connect with families through content with heart, comedy and originality is a dream.”
Friedman is an accomplished veteran of the kids and family business. Prior to being appointed Head of Kids & Family Programming for Warner Bros., she served in senior creative management roles at Nickelodeon, Noggin, TeenNick, Scratch (Viacom's in-house Millennial innovation lab), Sprout, and Universal Kids. Friedman is the Founder and President of Redhead Consulting, a brand creation and content development company focused on kids, teens and families. Her work in branding, inclusive storytelling and pro-social content has earned multiple Peabody, Beacon, Cable Ace, and Creativity Awards.
About Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics: GKYAC brings together Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), as well as Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. Among the iconic franchises, series and characters under the GKYAC banner are Looney Tunes, DC’s animated Super Heroes, “Rick and Morty,” “Craig of the Creek,” the classic Hanna-Barbera library, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Warner Bros.’ unrivaled film library, and many more.
GKYAC's mission is to be the premier global provider of kids, family, young adults, and classics content and brands. The group's programming supplies unique and compelling content for HBO Max, WarnerMedia's direct-to-consumer platform. Warner Bros. GKYAC’s content is currently distributed in 192 countries around the world and the division's networks are in 500 million homes, delivered through more than 65 channels in 31 languages.
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Contact:
Marie Moore
Marie.Moore@warnerbros.com
917-375-4790
Jean Yoo
Jean.Yoo@warnermedia.com
818-823-6695