Nickelodeon has recruited former Awesomeness exec Shauna Phelan (pictured) as its new SVP of live-action scripted content. Reporting to new president Brian Robbins, Phelan will oversee the development and production of all output fitting this bill, including TV movies and specials.
At Awesomeness, Phelan served as head of development and production overseeing scripted and non-scripted series. The hire seems like a natural extension of business development strategy, considering Viacom recently acquired the multi-platform media company to bolster its new Viacom Digital Studios portfolio and that Robbins was the co-founding CEO of Awesomeness.
Phelan joins just in time to support a first-look deal that Nick has inked with American comedian and actor Kevin Hart (Jumanji, The Secret Life of Pets) for live-action and scripted kids content.
In related news today, Nick Jr. Too has signed an agreement with Nevision that will see the UK preschool channel launch the first 52 x 11-minute episodes of Floogals in December. A third season of the CGI/live-action series is currently in production as a co-pro from Nevision, Zodiak Kids Studios and Universal Kids, with animation work by Jellyfish Pictures.
And also, Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) is set to launch a new range of consumer products inspired by German series Spotlight. The live-action show follows a group of young teens at the fictional Berlin School of Arts, and was produced with UFA Serial Drama specifically for German-speaking audiences. Nick aired the show’s third season in Germany last month, and this agreement marks the first time VNCP has planned a consumer products program for a fully local production. SKUs are due out at retail next year, with a focus on apparel, accessories, DVDs, stationery and back-to-school.