F.Y.I.

Nickelodeon appoints Hugh Baldwin

Nickelodeon Australia has appointed Hugh Baldwin to the role of  director of television and content acquisitions for Australia and New Zealand. 

The announcement:

SYDNEY, Australia (February 1, 2011) — Nickelodeon Australia today announced that Hugh Baldwin has been appointed to the new role of Director of Television and Content Acquisitions for Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand.

Baldwin’s new role builds upon his previous position as Digital Media Director, Nickelodeon Australia & MTV Networks Australia & New Zealand, in a development which reflects the network’s evolution towards a single-minded content strategy across platforms. The Director of Programming position was vacated mid last year by Deirdre Brennan, and was overseen in the interim by Katrina Southon, whose new role as SVP, Managing Director, MTV Networks Australia & New Zealand becomes effective today, as announced on January 17.

Baldwin’s new responsibilities will see him driving Nickelodeon’s programming and content strategies, including the management and planning of intellectual properties, programming acquisitions and development, and media planning for television and online. In addition to managing the Programming & Digital departments, Baldwin will be involved with MTV Networks International on a variety of initiatives and projects, including continuing his work on the International Apps and Digital councils, and representation of Nickelodeon Australia on the Nickelodeon International Program Council.

Katrina Southon, SVP, Managing Director, MTV Networks Australia & New Zealand commented: “Hugh is a multi-talented executive, whose leadership and creativity has been evident in the success of his many award-winning contributions to interactive and online initiatives at Nickelodeon. His new appointment is well-deserved and highlights Nickelodeon’s focus on serving content to kids across all platforms, with a complementary, holistic approach to programming.”

Hugh Baldwin, Director of Television and Content Acquisitions for Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand added, “I’m thrilled to be taking on this newly created role, in what I believe to be a timely move for Nickelodeon as a company to bind digital knowledge and experience with the core of our business: television. The world has shifted. Kids access content in a myriad of formats, and they are in control more than ever. Working in digital media necessitates an audience-centred approach, so expanding this mindset to the way we develop and broadcast all our content will be an exciting focus for me in this new role.”

Baldwin has been with Nickelodeon Australia for four years, and worked across the MTV Digital portfolio for much of the last two years. His work at Nickelodeon has won a Gold BDA for Best Interactive Media-Website for Network/Station at World Promax/BDA 2010; a Gold Promax for Best Interactive Media- Website Network/Station at World Promax/BDA; and a Silver Promax for Best Website Design at PROMAX/BDA Australian and New Zealand 2010. Prior awards include a Silver World BDA for Best Flash Site and an ASTRA award for Best Use of Technology in 2008; and a Netguide Award for Best Youth/Kids Website in 2009. He has also worked as a journalist, and is a graduate of NIDA, Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Baldwin is a Board member of Screen Tasmania, and is currently wrapping up his thesis for his PhD Candidacy in Children’s Interactive Digital Television, enhancing his wealth of experience in children’s production, online content development, interactive television applications, and research.

Source: Nickelodeon Australia press release

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