Network Moves: FOX Comedy VP Departs Post Disney ; Viacom Continues Mobile Distro

There’s a lot going on at the place that MTV built.

We told you guys last week how Viacom is expanding it’s international reach via mobile platforms having made deals in UK, Latin America, and other territories across the globe. Well, here’s news today that Viacom has made a deal with T-Mobile that will see brands like Comedy Central, MTV, and other Viacom brands being made available for T-Mobile subscribers. Also of note, Comedy Central and Paramount International Chief Jill Offman. She’s been given additional oversight for The Elephant House Studios, now known as Viacom International UK which corresponds with similar efforts in Latin America and Madrid from the media conglomerate.

Our Take

Viacom is just going down a completely different path than it’s competition. Less worried about launching streaming services and instead making numerous deals all over the world, including here in the States both with major mobile providers and even Netflix. It’s an interesting dynamic, but the best thing that’s going to come out of all of this? Content.


 

FOX’s Comedy Development VP, Jonathan Gabay, has departed 20th Century FOX post the Disney buy becoming by far the most high profile name having departed the company. Jonathan was responsible for managing series like Family Guy. A replacement hasn’t been announced as of yet, but Jonathan was a big deal for a long time and even listed how much he brought to the company. It’s possible that Gabay could be considered one of the bigger executive free agents now.

Entering its 16th season, FAMILY GUY continues to entertain its die-hard fan base with razor-sharp humor, spot-on parodies, spectacular animation and orchestra-backed original music. Since its debut in 1999, the series has reached cult status among fans, and its breakout star, a talking baby, has become one of the greatest TV characters of all time. FAMILY GUY has racked up numerous awards, including an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, only the second animated series in television history to be honored with such a distinction. Cast member Alex Borstein (voice of “Lois Griffin”) recently won the 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. Series’ creator and lead voice actor Seth MacFarlane (voice of “Brian Griffin,” “Peter Griffin” and “Stewie Griffin”) also was nominated in the category. He won the 2017 and 2016 Emmy Award in the category, and was nominated from 2013 to 2015.

FAMILY GUY is a 20th Century Fox Television production. Seth MacFarlane is creator and executive producer. Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin serve as executive producers and showrunners, while Steve Callaghan, Danny Smith and Kara Vallow are executive producers.