Turner creates new VP Original Productions EMEA role

Turner creates new VP Original Productions EMEA role Thursday, February 28, 2019

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Anke Greifeneder appointed to lead new regional general entertainment remit

Turner EMEA today signals the growing strategic importance of general entertainment content to its future ambitions as it promotes Anke Greifeneder to the new position of VP Original Productions EMEA.

Greifeneder, who is currently Director Original Productions, Central & Eastern Europe, assumes the new EMEA role as Turner continues to accelerate its investment in original local GE content production.

She will continue to report directly to Turner EMEA President, Giorgio Stock, and now joins his EMEA executive leadership team.

Creating original, immersive content helps us connect with existing and new fans, further differentiates our successful branded destinations and provides us greater choice to access exciting additional revenue streams, said Stock. Anke's expertise in finding and shaping great scripts, attracting and nurturing best-in-class talent, and executing across both drama and comedy, will help us take our GE ambitions to the next level, at a time when content creation is becoming an increasingly important ingredient in our business strategy.

In the new role, Greifeneder will spearhead the development, creation and production of GE originals across the region as part of Turner EMEA's enhanced GE development strategy, focusing initially on Germany, Spain and France.

Greifeneder will continue her oversight of the German GE content pipeline, where mould-breaking programming like 4 Blocks and Arthur's Law have brought critical acclaim and strong ratings as well as landmark syndication and format sales opportunities, with Arthur's Law to be adapted for US audiences on Turner's TBS network.

She will be also be responsible for exploring opportunities for collaboration with WarnerMedia sister companies, in the wake of the success of Hackerville, Turner's co-production with HBO, which earlier this week scooped a prestigious Grimme award.

Greifeneder will also support the talented original productions teams in Spain and France as these markets continue to develop their own GE content pipeline. Spanish political comedy Vota Juan has already proved a notable win for the Spanish team, debuting earlier this year to give TNT Spain some of its highest channel ratings ever.

Turner's GE content pipeline began in 2011, when it commissioned Add A Friend in an innovative content play which distinguished it from other pay-TV players and began the company's move into GE series production.

After producing one or two series each year since 2011, 2018 marked a significant acceleration with five series produced, and a commitment to continue this momentum. Already in 2019, Turner EMEA has greenlit three new seasons and has a further five series in development.

In addition to its growing local GE content portfolio, Turner's audiences also benefit from a wealth of content co-produced with Turner's US studios for which Turner holds the international rights, which for 2019 includes the drama I Am the Night from TNT with Chris Pine and directed by Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Miracle Workers, a TBS comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi who also executive produce, and highly anticipated TNT series Raised by Wolves, a serialised sci-fi series from master storyteller and filmmaker Ridley Scott (The Martian, Blade Runner, Alien: Covenant), which is currently in production.

Turner's accelerated investment in original GE content complements its long-established kids content pipeline, which has delivered global hits like The Amazing World of Gumball. The two-pipeline strategy ensures it is increasingly well-positioned with premium local IP in both kids and GE that can be scaled globally.

-ENDS-

About Anke Greifeneder

Anke Greifeneder joined Turner in 2007 as Director Programming Kids & Entertainment channels for the German-speaking territories. Since 2013, she has been responsible for Turners original productions in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Berlin gangster series 4 Blocks (TNT Serie), which has won 15 awards to date (including the Grimme-Preis, Deutscher Fernsehpreis and Goldene Kamera). Greifeneder was awarded a Grimme-Preis for mystery drama The Valley (TNT series) and dramedy Add a Friend (TNT series). Other productions include the comedy noir Arthur's Law and the mockumentary Other Parents (both TNT Comedy), as well as the childrens format Jimi versus Mitja - Win or go Home! (Cartoon Network). Before joining Turner, she worked for MTV, Viva and Comedy Central, among others; and is also a successful author.

Greifeneder was recently recognized as one of the Top 25 Women in Global Television in the Hollywood Reporter's 2018 list.

About Turner International

Turner International is an entertainment, sports and news company that creates premium content and delivers exceptional experiences to fans whenever and wherever they consume content. It operates versions of core Turner brands, including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and TCM Turner Classic Movies, as well as country- and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. It manages the business of Pay- and Free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage WarnerMedia's global reach. Turner International operates 178 channels showcasing 47 brands in 34 languages in over 200 countries. Turner International is a WarnerMedia company.

LINK:	https://www.turner.com/pressroom/turner-creates-new-vp-original-produc...
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