BBC Taps eOne Alum for Preschool Lead

Kate Morton, currently the content strategy director of family brands at Entertainment One, has been appointed as BBC Children’s head of commissioning and acquisitions for 0 to 6s.

Morton’s new role will see her lead on all BBC preschool programming. She will be responsible for all commissions and acquisitions—from both in-house production teams and the independent sector—as well as for delivering content, products and onscreen talent across all platforms for audiences up to 6 years old.

Morton joins the BBC later in the summer and will work alongside Sarah Muller, who took up the role of BBC Children’s head of commissioning and acquisitions for 7-plus in March 2020.

With eOne, Morton has overseen a number of hugely successful kids’ titles, including Peppa Pig, PJ Masks, Ricky Zoom, My Little Pony, Transformers and Power Rangers. Before Entertainment One, she spent 12 years at The Walt Disney Company, where she was responsible for all aspects of programming, acquisitions, commissions and creative strategy for Disney Junior and Disney Channels linear and on-demand across multiple territories.

Morton commented: “I’m over the moon to be joining BBC Children’s. It’s the fulfillment of a lifelong personal goal, and I’m honored to be given this opportunity to deliver the very best content to engage, educate and entertain children 0 to 6 and their families across the U.K.”

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education and to whom Morton will report, said: “Kate’s wealth of experience in preschool broadcasting makes her the perfect appointment to lead on such precious CBeebies brands as Bedtime Stories, Hey Duggee, Numberblocks and Mr Tumble. I’m thrilled she is joining us and we’re all looking forward to working with her.”