FremantleMedia North America Hires for BUZZR Channel

BURBANK: FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) has appointed a number of executives for BUZZR, a new game show network that is slated to launch on June 1.

Mark Deetjen joins as VP of programming and operations. He was previously the VP of programming for Sony Pictures Television, where he supervised the launch of three channels and their corresponding VOD services. He has also worked for such companies as Viva Vision, Amp’d Mobile and Fountain Productions.

Jamie Klein was named VP of creative services for BUZZR and FMNA. Prior to this appointment, he served as the VP of on-air promotion for GSN, for which he produced short-form programming, promotional spots and digital content. Earlier in his career, he held the same title at E! Network.

Joining as BUZZR’s VP of marketing is Kiesha McCorry, Lionsgate Television’s former VP of domestic TV marketing. In that position, she oversaw PR, marketing and merchandising for such hits as Mad Men and Orange Is the New Black. Before that, she held marketing, sales and distribution roles at FEARnet, NFL Enterprises, Comcast and Lifetime Television, and worked in publicity at Miramax Films.

Marissa Mongiello was hired as BUZZR’s VP of traffic. She most recently served as NBCUniversal’s traffic director for E! and Style, for which she managed the day-to-day channel operations while collaborating with sales, pricing and planning, programming and marketing efforts. Earlier in her career, she worked for G4 Network, Youthstream Media and Robert A Becker, Inc.

Ron Garfield, the executive VP and general manager of BUZZR, stated: “BUZZR is FMNA’s first entry into the channel space. It was paramount that we put the right team in place to launch the destination for fun and play through some of the most iconic game shows of our time. The team we’ve assembled has the combined channel experience, market penetration expertise and love, passion and respect for our content needed to create a highly successful launch for BUZZR and a sustaining entertainment brand.”