Discovery International Introduces Discovery Kids Media

Discovery International is launching Discovery Kids Media (DKM), a new unit created to develop, commission, co-produce and distribute kids’ animated and live-action content.

Carolina Lightcap, executive VP and chief content officer for Discovery Latin America/U.S. Hispanic (DLA/USH), will add to her responsibilities as general manager of DKM.

“With over 20 years in the Latin America market, Discovery Kids has had long-standing success as the leading pay-TV network for preschoolers and continues to grow in the region,” said Lightcap. “Discovery Kids Media creates content with a unique creative vision for DK in Latin America and partners around the world. We are very excited to have Danielle join our team. Her vast expertise in the entertainment distribution industry will now allow us to take our productions to international markets.”

Danielle Davies has joined the company as VP of kids content partnerships and revenue for Discovery Kids Media. Davies will be responsible for leading the exploitation of all titles created by DKM, as part of Discovery International’s program sales and consumer products team.

DKM’s initial distribution slate includes Mini Beat Power Rockers, which is the number one show on Discovery Kids Latin America. The series, produced in English and also available in Spanish and Portuguese, is produced by MundoLoco, the production company founded by Academy Award-winning director Juan José Campanella, who is executive producer. There’s also Big Top Academy, produced by Apartment 11 Productions in association with DK and TVO Kids, in collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil Images. The series was shot in Montreal in English and is also available in Spanish and Portuguese. Zu & Her Zoo, a live-action series produced by Boutique Films, was shot in Portuguese and is also available in English and Spanish.

Additionally, DKM currently has more than 15 projects in development.

The DKM team will also manage Discovery’s participation in joint-venture agreements for kids productions, such as the recently announced redknot, a JV between Discovery and Nelvana.