New Chief for Turner’s Animation, Kids, Young Adult Brands

ATLANTA, May 2: Former CINAR chief Stuart Snyder has been elevated from his current GameTap position to lead Turner Broadcasting System’s cable networks, digital properties and entertainment businesses for kids and young adults—including Cartoon Network and Adult Swim—in the wake of Jim Samples’ resignation earlier this year.

As executive VP and COO of animation, young adults and kids media, Snyder will oversee Turner assets including the cable television networks Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim; the digital businesses Cartoonnetwork.com, AdultSwim.com, Toonami Jetstream, Cartoon Network Video, GameTap and Super Deluxe; and two animation production facilities: Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank and Williams Street Studios in Atlanta. In addition, Snyder will work closely with Turner Broadcasting System International on programming strategies for Cartoon Network Asia Pacific, Cartoon Network Europe, Cartoon Network Latin America & Caribbean and Cartoon Network Japan. Based in Atlanta, he reports to Mark Lazarus, the president of Turner Entertainment Group.

"Building a new operating structure around our company’s animation and digital entertainment assets and positioning Stu at its head signals the opportunity we see among kids and young adults, and our intention to more aggressively play in that marketplace," said Lazarus. "Stu is a builder with a great track record for defining and programming to targeted audiences. In Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and now GameTap and Super Deluxe, he and his team have brands and platforms to leverage in creative, strategic new ways."

Snyder added: "With the on-air and online platforms, original and classic animation, games, comedy and production capabilities at our disposal, we can and will engage highly desirable consumers with the most innovative and valuable targeted entertainment experiences available. I know firsthand what this company and the people here can do, and I’m excited about what we’ll accomplish together."

Snyder rejoined Turner Broadcasting in 2005 as senior VP and general manager of GameTap. Previously he was president and CEO of CINAR Corporation, prior to its sale to an investor group led by Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor and subsequent rebranding as Cookie Jar Entertainment. Prior to this he served as the president and COO of World Wrestling Entertainment and president of USA Home Entertainment.

His elevation and the creation of the new kids’ and young adults’ portfolio follows the resignation of Jim Samples, who stepped down as the executive VP and general manager of Cartoon Network in February over the cable network’s marketing ploy that caused a bomb scare in Boston at the end of January. The botched marketing scheme used small electronic devices to promote Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force; in Boston the curious devices were mistaken for bombs, leading to the closure of highways, bridges and subway stations.