Katherine Nelson To Head Corporate Communications For Disney Branded Television

EXCLUSIVE: CAA has signed actor-producer Katherine Heigl (Firefly Lane) for representation.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNielsen’s media data arm Gracenote is launching new tools to measure the “bingeability” and streaming availability of TV shows to offer companies guidance in licensing and acquisition during the Peak TV era.Joining Gracenote’s Content Analytics data group, which features Inclusion Analytics and Audience Predict, the Distribution Dynamics and Program Availability Archive will “provide the content marketplace insights into characteristics of programming that drives consumption and historical availability enabling data-driven decision-making,” per Nielsen.The Distribution Dynamics offering will look at the following, in order to evaluate how specific streaming and broadcast series are consumed: Per Nielsen, “Leveraging this intelligence, streaming services and networks can optimize slate management through visibility into what content is better suited for viewer acquisition versus viewer retention, or what types of programming better resonate with certain audiences. Media companies and studios can solve content distribution challenges by understanding what programming to create or license to maximize viewership.

Lauri Metrose is exiting her post as EVP, Communications at CBS Studios for a new opportunity outside of the entertainment industry. Metrose, who will leave at the end of June, has spent virtually her entire career to date at CBS, going from a rising star junior publicist to one of the most accomplished and respected TV communications executives in town. Search for her replacement is expected to begin this week.

Mark Sutherland One guaranteed blockbuster concert series this summer is the American Express Presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park festival. It will stage the most shows in its history between June 24 and July 10, with two concerts apiece by Adele, the Rolling Stones, and Pearl Jam, and additional gigs by Elton John, the Eagles and Duran Duran.AEG Presents CEO of European festivals Jim King tells Variety that this summer the event will set new records for its most tickets sold, highest gross, largest number of sponsors and highest sponsorship gross.“We’ve got the biggest line-up we’ve ever had, both in terms of quantity and the stature of the artists,” says King.

If you haven’t noticed, 90s baby braids are having a serious moment right now. In recent months, everyone from Hailey Bieber and Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley have championed the throwback look, and now former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has jumped on the trend. In a series of selfies shared to her Instagram account, the 30 year old can be seen donning the festival-worthy look, but it’s not just the braids that are new.The star appears to have swapped her recent brunette bob for lengthy blonde locks with face-framing highlights.

The support acts for one of the most anticipated gigs of the year have been announced: the Rolling Stones anniversary concerts. This summer marks a full 60 years since the foundation of the iconic rock band, and the Stones are celebrating with two massive gigs in London’s Hyde Park. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will return to the Great Oak Stage for British Summer Time in Hyde Park this summer for not one, but two dates.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPresident Joe Biden will welcome superstar South Korean group BTS to the White House on Tuesday to “discuss Asian inclusion and representation” and to “address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination,” according to an announcement from the White House released Thursday.Biden and the group “will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS’ platform as youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world,” the statement continues.The visit by BTS will take place on May 31, the final day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.As noted by Politico, the president has been active during the month. He issued a presidential proclamation on April 29 about AANHPI Heritage Month, and he and Vice President Kamala Harris — who is half Filipino — hosted a White House reception earlier in the month that included U.S.

Warner Bros. Discovery has formally named Nathaniel Brown chief corporate communications officer of the newly merged company.

Nathaniel Brown has been named chief corporate communications officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, the company announced on Tuesday.Brown will be responsible for its global communications operations and media relations, while also serving as lead spokesperson.Brown previously led global corporate communications for Discovery, Inc. as the company’s executive vice president of global communications.

A perfect pair! Katherine Schwarzenegger shared a rare photo of her daughter Lyla as they shared a “dream” day together.

Sky has unveiled a second series of I Hate Suzie and an adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, while confirming Universal Pictures’ Wicked will be one of the first projects to be filmed at Elstree Studios, relocating from the U.S.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorHow did the simple act of counting TV viewers become so controversial? David Kenny thinks he knows.The CEO of Nielsen has been under fire for months, ever since some of his company’s biggest customers — the nation’s TV networks — began to complain about how Nielsen tabulated viewers during the coronavirus pandemic. They are still complaining.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNBCUniversal communications vet Katherine Nelson has joined Disney Branded Television in the newly-created role of vice president of corporate communications.In this position, Nelson will be responsible for overall communications strategy in support of the organization’s business and executive team as they ramp up the volume of programming that they create, produce and market for Disney+ and linear networks Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.Based in Burbank, California, Nelson will have a focus on communications that drive the business and build Disney Branded Television’s brand reputation. She will be responsible for leading both external and internal communications for the organization, driving alignment and integrated messaging around strategy, business operations, brand development and internal culture.

Masset-Depasse won a record-breaking nine Magritte Awards from the Belgian Academy, including Best Film and Best Director.“Mothers’ Instinct” is also produced by Paul Nelson (“Under My Skin,” “Pod Generation”) at Mosaic and Jacques-Henri Bronckart (“Duelles,” “The Nun”). Producer and financier Anton (“Greenland,” “The Night House”) is fully financing the project with Anton’s Founder and CEO Sébastien Raybaud overseeing the project with Anton’s John Zois, President of Production, who negotiated the deal with CAA.

Charissa Gilmore, a Disney veteran of more than 30 years, has been promoted to SVP of Corporate Communications for Disney General Entertainment. This is a title bump for Gilmore who has been leading corporate communications for the unit and will continue to report to Peter Rice, chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterLongtime Disney communications and marketing staple Charissa Gilmore has been promoted to senior vice president of corporate communications at the company’s TV content arm, Disney General Entertainment.Most recently vice president of global distribution communications for Disney/ABC Television, in her upped role, Gilmore heads up external and internal corporate communications strategies and execution across business operations and content brands, including 20th Television, ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic and Onyx Collective.Her responsibilities include strategy, corporate messaging, executive communications, internal communications, public relations, corporate social responsibility, issues management and the shared functions for events planning, promotions, visual communications, editorial and photo operations. Gilmore reports directly to Peter Rice, chairman of General Entertainment at Disney.“Charissa’s such an important and trusted partner to me and my leadership team, as well as to her colleagues throughout the company,” Rice said in a statement Tuesday.

Chris Pratt is gearing up to be a new dad for a third time, and the actor is opening up about his possible hopes for expanding his family even more in the years to come.Pratt and his co-star Bryce Dallas Howard, sat down with ET's Kevin Frazier while promoting their forthcoming dino-packed action adventure, and the stars addressed the exciting news that Pratt and wife Katherine Schwarzenegger are expecting their second kid together.When asked how many children Pratt thinks he'd like to eventually have, Howard offered up an answer on his behalf: «Dozens!»«Yup, dozens, dozens,» Pratt jokingly concurred. «We want to have one dozen children.»«I mean, Chris and I were just talking about this, he's always really wanted a big family,» Howard added.