William Astor, who co-founded kids TV juggernaut Silvergate Media, has stepped down as the company’s chair.
Silvergate, which was acquired by Sony Pictures Television in 2019, quietly re-branded as Sony Pictures Television – Kids in 2022.
“I can confirm I am no longer associated with Sony and have resigned as director and chairman,” Astor told Variety. He stepped down at the end of December.
Astor originally co-founded the company alongside well-known British television producer Waheed Alli back in 2011. It is best known for producing children’s animated franchises “Octonauts” — which has inspired films and theme park attractions across the world — and Nickelodeon animation “Peter Rabbit,” based on the classic children’s books by Beatrix Potter. It has also produced shows including “Hilda,” a Netflix animated series based on Luke Pearson’s graphic novels of the same name, and Nickelodeon’s “Sunny Day,” about the adventures of a young hair stylist.
Sony paid...
Silvergate, which was acquired by Sony Pictures Television in 2019, quietly re-branded as Sony Pictures Television – Kids in 2022.
“I can confirm I am no longer associated with Sony and have resigned as director and chairman,” Astor told Variety. He stepped down at the end of December.
Astor originally co-founded the company alongside well-known British television producer Waheed Alli back in 2011. It is best known for producing children’s animated franchises “Octonauts” — which has inspired films and theme park attractions across the world — and Nickelodeon animation “Peter Rabbit,” based on the classic children’s books by Beatrix Potter. It has also produced shows including “Hilda,” a Netflix animated series based on Luke Pearson’s graphic novels of the same name, and Nickelodeon’s “Sunny Day,” about the adventures of a young hair stylist.
Sony paid...
- 1/10/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Foo Fighters partnered with Apple Music for their new Medicine at Midnight Radio series. The six-part project, which celebrates the band’s recently issued 10th LP, launched Monday with a debut installment featuring bassist Nate Mendel.
In a statement about the show, frontman Dave Grohl noted, “We’re going to listen to some music. I’ll tell you some stories, play you some new songs, play you some songs that inspired me when I was young…kind of take you from the beginning all the way up to today.”
Fans...
In a statement about the show, frontman Dave Grohl noted, “We’re going to listen to some music. I’ll tell you some stories, play you some new songs, play you some songs that inspired me when I was young…kind of take you from the beginning all the way up to today.”
Fans...
- 2/9/2021
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
Sony Pictures Television is diving into children’s TV in a big way by buying Silvergate Media – the producer behind global hits “Octonauts,” Netflix’s “Hilda” and the “Peter Rabbit” animated series – for $195 million, Variety has learned. The acquisition marks Spt’s first move into producing kids’ TV and follows its stablemate Sony Pictures Animation’s diversification into TV series.
Spt is buying Silvergate from the current management team and Shamrock Capital. L.A.-based investment business Shamrock acquired 51% of Silvergate in 2016. Among Silvergate’s assets is a 49% stake in a joint venture formed last year with China’s Wanda Group. That entity holds the rights to “Octonauts,” the preschool animated series about a band of intrepid underwater explorers. The show started out in the U.K. and has become a global success.
Sony has also acquired a minority stake in Silvergate Bp Bidco, which owns the “Peter Rabbit” animated TV series.
Spt is buying Silvergate from the current management team and Shamrock Capital. L.A.-based investment business Shamrock acquired 51% of Silvergate in 2016. Among Silvergate’s assets is a 49% stake in a joint venture formed last year with China’s Wanda Group. That entity holds the rights to “Octonauts,” the preschool animated series about a band of intrepid underwater explorers. The show started out in the U.K. and has become a global success.
Sony has also acquired a minority stake in Silvergate Bp Bidco, which owns the “Peter Rabbit” animated TV series.
- 12/10/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Silvergate Media, producer of global hit children’s series “Octonauts,” has set up shop in China. It’s making two “Octonauts” movies with Wanda’s kids entertainment division, and will also work up new properties for the local market that it will also push out internationally, Silvergate CEO and co-founder Waheed Alli told Variety.
The company’s China launch comes after it teamed with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV to co-produce Season 5 of “Octonauts,” an animated preschool series that follows a band of animal aquatic adventurers. Silvergate also makes the “Peter Rabbit” animated series and Nick Jr. show “Sunny Day.”
Its creative team is mostly based in New York and L.A., with commercial activity run out of London. Alli is based in the U.K. but spends 10 days a month in the U.S. “Building a franchise is what we’re good at, but it does mean you have to be present in the U.
The company’s China launch comes after it teamed with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV to co-produce Season 5 of “Octonauts,” an animated preschool series that follows a band of animal aquatic adventurers. Silvergate also makes the “Peter Rabbit” animated series and Nick Jr. show “Sunny Day.”
Its creative team is mostly based in New York and L.A., with commercial activity run out of London. Alli is based in the U.K. but spends 10 days a month in the U.S. “Building a franchise is what we’re good at, but it does mean you have to be present in the U.
- 7/2/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Actresses Lilla Crawford Broadway's Annie, Taylor Louderman Kinky Boots, and Elan Luz Rivera stopped by today's Pix11 to discuss their new animated series Sunny Day, which premiered on Monday, August 21st. 'Everything's an adventure,' shared the stars. Watch the appearance below...
- 8/22/2017
- by TV News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
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