Q&A: Fernando Szew

***Fernando Szew***In the seven years since it was established, MarVista Entertainment has evolved from simply selling third-party programming to producing and distributing a wide variety of genres. Known as a leading supplier of TV movies and family fare, MarVista has built on that reputation and recently struck a number of major deals, most notably, one as international distributor of the iconic children’s brand Power Rangers. CEO Fernando Szew talks about his company’s growth strategy.

WS: How did the Power Rangers deal come about?
SZEW: This is a very, very important milestone in the growth of MarVista. It came about as a result of hard work, our reputation and relationships. You’ve heard me use this phrase before, it’s the three Ps: passion, patience and perseverance, and that’s what really led to this deal. It’s our passion for what we do, our patience for seeking the right deals for our company, and persevering on this one when the opportunity presented itself. We demonstrated that we thoroughly understood the power of the Power Rangers brand, where Haim Saban and his team at Saban Brands wanted to take the brand in its re-launch, and how we fit into their plans.

WS: You not only have the rights to the 700 library episodes of Power Rangers, but also to the new series Saban Brands will be producing.
SZEW: Absolutely. It’s really monumental to participate in the re-launch, with Saban Brands responsible for all aspects of the Power Rangers brand, including the production of the new series to air on Nickelodeon in the U.S., and MarVista handling global television sales. We are really excited about it, and at MIPCOM the international television marketplace will see that the Power Rangers will once again be one of the premiere brands in kids’ television.

WS: Beyond your usual slate of TV movies, you now also have a mini-series to offer buyers. Is this a new genre for you?
SZEW: Yes, this is something new that we are doing and it goes back to being patient while looking at the right time and the right opportunity. We have had many discussions with our broadcast partners about the importance of the mini-series genre, and we found the perfect opportunity and the right angle to get into this business with Witches of Oz. It is key that this type of mini-series or event programming have some existing awareness with the audience, and Witches of Oz, which is based on the Wizard of Oz, is a timeless story known both domestically and internationally. It has a great cast, and brings a creative modern twist to a classic tale.

WS: You have always been cautious in your business dealings, and yet during a difficult economic environment you grew your company substantially.
SZEW: We are very entrepreneurial and opportunistic and, in spite of the economic difficulties, we decided to continue to invest in producing and acquiring quality product, recruit outstanding people and develop relationships with talented and creative partners, knowing that we were going to be in a much stronger position when the crisis was over. A few good examples here include our co-production with the Disney Channel on the original movie 16 Wishes—a first for MarVista even in a difficult economy; our ongoing relationship with Apartment 11, the creators of the live-action kids reality series Prank Patrol, which has become quite a hit for ABC in Australia with activeTV’s format version; and our investment in SNAP TV in Argentina.

WS: What sense are you getting of the health of the international television business?
SZEW: There are new sources of money from big established players that are really attempting to make important moves. One is obviously Haim Saban, whose recently launched company, Saban Brands, will not only be active in television but also in the areas of branding, licensing and merchandising. These companies are leveraging not just money but true knowledge of content. This type of investment is going to be much healthier for the industry than some of the funding that was happening in the earlier part of the decade where deals were more financially driven than content driven. This new, strategic approach is going to help the development of our increasingly fragmented media world. Consumers have so many entertainment choices right now—there are more than 100 channels in almost every country now plus online, mobile phones and the iPad. But those [who] understand the programming business and who are investing smartly now will be able to help monetize what all these technologies will bring. So I think it’s a good time for the industry.        

WS: What are your priorities for the next 12 to 24 months?
SZEW: We want our broadcast partners and those that we supply to continue to know that we understand their needs and concerns, and that we will be working with them to make sure that the content taken to the marketplace by either our own production efforts or third-party distribution is viable and relatable to today’s audience.