Sky Vision appoints new director of drama and comedy

Sky Vision, the production and distribution arm of Sky, announces Jason Simms will become its new director of drama and comedy. Jason has extensive experience in global acquisitions and he will spearhead Sky Vision's drama and comedy acquisitions, deficit-funding and pre-sales activity. Jason will take up the role on the 20th March and will report to managing director of Sky Vision, Jane Millichip.

Jason joins from Fox Network Group Europe and Africa (FNG), where he was the senior vice president for Global Acquisitions. Starting at Fox in 2004, he was part of the team responsible for developing FNG's global series strategy, which has seen series such as The Walking Dead, Da Vinci's Demons, Wayward Pines and Legion premiering over the groups' entertainment channel portfolio in more than 180 countries. He also bought international hits such as Breaking Bad and Dexter first to FNG, and worked on more than 25 international channel launches around the world during his tenure.

Sky Vision is a significant investor in Sky Original Productions, and manages the international roll-out of a number of Skys largest scripted franchises including; Fortitude, Britannia, and Riviera. For the past two years Sky Vision has won the Broadcast Award for International Programme Sales of Sky Atlantic dramas; Fortitude (from Fifty Fathoms) in 2016, and The Last Panthers (from Warp Films and Haut et Court) in 2017.

Sky Vision recently also moved into third party drama co-productions, and has launched the Netflix/Shaw time travel series Travelers from Peacock Alley, and the New Metric Media and FX mob drama, Bad Blood.

Jane Millichip, Sky Vision managing director commented: "Jason is one of the most respected and well-regarded drama executives on the international circuit. He has an unnervingly keen eye for a hit, and is renowned as a smart and professional deal-maker. All qualities we rate highly at Sky Vision. Were looking forward to welcoming him aboard."

Jason Simms commented: "Since launching in 2012, Sky Vision has built a fantastic track record of bringing big-ticket, unmissable series like Fortitude, Britannia and The Last Panthers to global audiences and networks. I'm delighted to be joining Jane and her team at such a dynamic point in the company's development, and am really excited to help them to deliver their next generation of hit shows.

Jason will work alongside director of sales Leona Connell and SVP sales and acquisitions US Gillian Rose, to progress Sky Visions global scripted strategy.

For more information please contact:

Amy Holland

Amy.Holland@Sky.uk

About Sky Vision

Sky Vision is the production and distribution arm of Sky. The distribution arm represents around 5,000 hours of quality primetime programming from Sky Original Productions and independent third party production, across all key primetime genres (drama, entertainment, factual entertainment and factual). The business also has equity investments in nine production businesses in the UK and US; Love Productions, Blast! Films, Sugar Films, True North, Chrysalis Vision and Sky Vision Productions in the UK; and in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, Talos Films and Znak & Co.

In addition to its equity investments, Sky Vision works extensively with independent producers in the UK and US and has development deals with a number of production companies including Asylum Entertainment, Double Nickel and Peacock Alley in North America; and Avanti Media, Bohemia, Chalkboard, LittleRock Pictures, Merman Films, and Spring Films in the UK.

LINK:	https://corporate.sky.com/media-centre/news-page/2017/sky-vision-appoi...
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