Kevin Reilly, president of TBS & TNT and chief creative officer for Turner Entertainment, has launched a new business strategy unit led by David Beck and Jesse Redniss, the co-founding partners of BRaVe Ventures, a strategic advisory and investment firm specializing in the technology, media and entertainment “(r)evolution.”
Turner has acquired BRaVe’s advisory business, with Beck and Redniss, along with key members of their BRaVe Ventures team, joining TBS & TNT as the new Network Strategy and Innovation Team. Beck and Redniss, who had worked with Turner via their company for the last two years, will serve as Chief Strategy and Ventures Officer and Chief Innovation Officer, respectively, reporting to Reilly.
Over the past two years, Beck and Redniss participated in the development and launch of Turner’s new eSports league, ELEAGUE, which airs on TBS; the ad sales data tool Turner Ignite; and the social media optimization tool Launchpad, among others.
Using a template Beck and Redniss introduced for eSports, which includes a linear show on the network, broadcasts on Twitch and social media engagement tools, the duo and their team plan to work with TNT and TBS’ development executives on creating multi-platform experience for the networks’ new shows, augmenting the series on linear TV with such extensions as live interactive games, short-form programming or initiatives on social media.
Beck and Redniss also will work with TNT and TBS’ marketing team on finding innovative ways to partner with advertisers and on developing original programming to air during ad pods.
“We have benefited from the expertise of David and Jesse in both business development and consumer experience over the past year,” said Reilly. “With the guys now exclusively in our corner we can accelerate the evolution of TNT and TBS into dynamic omni-channel brands distinguished by top-notch content, as well as premium experiences and consumer connections.”
Added Beck and Redniss, “The speed at which Turner is bringing change to the marketplace is unprecedented, and our goal is to ensure that TBS & TNT reach tomorrow first.”
Since the beginning of the year, TBS has launched five of cable’s Top 20 new series, including Angie Tribeca, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Detour, Wrecked and, most recently, People of Earth. TNT’s new lineup launched this summer with new series Animal Kingdom, one of cable’s Top 10 dramas in Q3 2016. Coming up next are the debuts of Good Behavior on TNT and Search Party on TBS.
Additionally, looking to improve the viewing experience, Turner has begun a company-wide initiative to reduce the ad load in new programming. Animal Kingdom was the first such series with fewer commercial breaks, adding approximately 10 minutes of program time to each hour.
Prior to BRaVe, Beck created the Office of the CEO at Univision where he also served as SVP & Head of Social Media. Prior to Univision, he was with global strategy consulting firm Bain & Company.
Redniss spent more than eight years as SVP of digital at USA Network. He also previously was the chief strategy officer leading media relationships at Spredfast.
