YouTube adds ex-WGN & Fox execs for originals

YouTube is bolstering its original programming team by hiring former WGN America (WGN) and Fox executives.

Jon Wax has been named head of drama, scripted and current at SVOD service YouTube Red, while Angela Courtin takes a marketing post.

Wax previously worked at WGN as executive VP of original programming, and becomes the second exec this week to join a digital company’s original programming team after a spell at the US cable channel.

Before WGN, where he worked on series such as Manhattan, he spent 15 years at Fox, workig on shows including 24, Prison Break and Malcom in the Middle.

Yesterday, it emerged former WGN president and general manager Matt Cherniss is joining Apple to lead its development team.

Courtin, who was Fox Broadcasting’s one-time marketing chief, has joined as global head of marketing for originals and YouTube TV, the recently launched over-the-top pay TV service.

In June, YouTube Red unveiled its latest batch of original shows, which included a pair of scripted series, a competition format and a live-action kids series. Since then, it has ordered a Karate Kid spin-off and a magazine series We Are Savvy.

A number of the largest tech and digital giants that dwarf even the biggest content groups are increasingly pushing into original content, with Facebook, Apple and Google all hiring veteran entertainment execs to run their operations.