If you don’t know who Margaret Loesch is, you surely know her work.
The legendary TV executive launched the Power Rangers franchise and also worked on series including Muppet Babies, G.I. Joe, Fraggle Rock, X-Men, Steven Spielberg’s Animaniacs, Transformers, My Little Pony, and more.
Now, Margaret Loesch has been named executive chairman of Genius Brands International’s new Kartoon Channel. Joining Loesch is David Neuman, former President of Walt Disney Television as chief creative officer. Neuman will work alongside Loesch and Kartoon Channel General Manager Caroline Tyre.
“I have known and admired Margaret and David for many years. There are no two more accomplished executives in our industry than Margaret Loesch and David Neuman,” says Andy Heyward, CEO of Genius Brands. “One doesn’t become the president of multiple children’s networks, or the president of Walt Disney Television, respectfully, without a reputation of being ‘Best in Class’. Their collective knowledge and relationships with the advertiser community, the creative community, and the distribution community in kid’s broadcasting is at the pinnacle of the field. They play to win, and nothing less.”
Loesch is perhaps best known for her role as founding president and CEO of Fox Kids Networks Worldwide, where she launched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and grew the channels to massive success. Fox Kids Networks was sold to the Walt Disney Co. for $5.5 billion in 2001.
Additionally, Loesch has previously served as president and CEO of Marvel Productions, president of The Jim Henson Co., founding president and CEO of the U.S. Hallmark Channel and Crown Media U.S., and was most recently president of The Hub Network, which was a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications.
“I have admired David’s accomplishments and reputation as an innovator and magnet for talent for years and have had the good fortune to work extensively with Andy over the years, Loesch says. “This is a wonderful opportunity to work with both David and Andy, and the Genius Brands’ team where I will oversee and provide advice on the creation of a new destination for kids and their families.”
Kartoon Channel has been described by Heyward as being “like Netflix for kids, except it is free.”
The service launches via OTT streaming services, on-demand platforms, and mobile devices on June 15.
As Deadline reported last month, Loesch will also be the subject of a new documentary from the makers of A Toy Store Near You and The Toys That Made Us.
