Margaret Loesch to Advise on Kid Genius Cartoon Channel

BEVERLY HILLS: Genius Brands International has appointed Margaret Loesch, founder and former CEO of Fox Kids, as executive chairman of its Kid Genius Cartoon Channel, which is currently available in 50 million U.S. homes.

Loesch will provide counsel to Deb Pierson, who has been promoted from general manager to president and is leading the VOD platform’s domestic and international expansion. Loesch has 40 years of experience working in all phases of kids’ broadcasting and family entertainment. She has contributed to the development and/or production of such hits as Smurfs, My Little Pony, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Animaniacs, among others.

Throughout her career, Loesch held senior posts with a number of companies as both a creative and business executive. She was the founding president and CEO of Hub TV Network, president and CEO of Crown Media United States, and president of television worldwide for The Jim Henson Company. She became founding president and CEO of Fox Kids Network, Worldwide in 1990. Before that, she was president and CEO of Marvel Comics’ Marvel Productions.

Shelly Hirsch, CEO of children’s media buyer Beacon Media Group, remarked: “For decades, Margaret has exemplified the ‘best of the best’ in the children’s broadcast business. This is truly a feather in the cap for the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel and I look forward to seeing the tremendous growth opportunities that will no doubt transpire under her guidance.”

Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, said: “We are extraordinarily fortunate to have the dean of children’s broadcasters, Margaret Loesch, expand on her role as a board member of Genius Brands International to join the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel as its executive chairman, given her outstanding background in creating and building successful kids’ networks. As founder and CEO of Fox Kids Worldwide, she stewarded the company until shortly before its sale to the Walt Disney Company for $5.4 billion and in her career, she has repeatedly generated success time and time again.”

“It is truly remarkable what Andy and the Genius Brands team have accomplished with the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel in such a short amount of time,” noted Loesch. “I joined the company’s board of directors last year because I believed in the mission and direction of the company, and I am excited to provide insight and counsel in collaboration with Deb Pierson to build this video-on-demand channel into a leading global children’s digital platform.”

“There are tremendous opportunities for the channel to explore and I am honored to be working in a greater capacity in expanding the channel, and working with an executive of Margaret’s stature, to make the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel into a number one destination for kids,” added Pierson.