Endemol Shine UK restructures MCN business

Multichannel networks Endemol Beyond UK and ChannelFlip are to continue operating separately under the Endemol Shine UK umbrella.

The two companies come from different sides of the Endemol Shine Group merger, with Endemol Beyond UK previously part of Endemol and ChannelFlip part of Shine Group.

As part of a restructuring Endemol Shine UK executive producer Jules Fuller has been named creative director of ChannelFlip, taking control across the firm’s digital programming, with Jamie Lennox stepping down from the post alongside commercial director Matt Rook early this summer.

Lennox and Rook plan to launch a new venture. Details of this will follow in “due course”, according to Endemol Shine.

Caroline Reik becomes director of branded content at Endemol Shine UK, working across both brands, with Endemol Shine UK commercial director Laurence Jones in charge of both companies.

“ChannelFlip and Endemol Beyond have outstanding teams in place which encompasses the entire spectrum of creative digital programming, talent management and brand partnerships,” said Jones.

“Jamie and Matt have done a fantastic job helping shape ChannelFlip in their roles, and in the last few months bringing the company under one roof. They are leaving the business in great shape for Jules and Caroline, who have the commercial and production experience to step into these new roles as part of an enhanced digital offering.”

Fuller, who joined Endemol Shine subsidiary Initial in 2004 after running music net Channel [V] and launching Turner’s Indian kids net Pogo, and Reik, who joined Endemol Shine UK last year, report into Jones.

Elsewhere, Riyad Barmania has been promoted to ChannelFlip’s content director.

Endemol Beyond UK is part of Endemol Beyond, Endemol Shine Group’s digital arm which launched in November 2013. Its slate includes digital shows such as ICON UK, Rule’M Sports and Legends of Gaming.

ChannelFlip became part of Shine in January 2012. It has around 180 channels and 20 million online subscribers. Lennox and Rook have been running the company since the departure of managing director Claire Tavernier last year, who in turn had replaced co-founders Justin Gayner and Wil Harris.

The changes are latest the mass restructuring that’s taken place since Europe-based production giants Endemol and Shine pacted with US-based Core Media Group to create the world’s largest non-studio content group at the turn of the year.