Fox unveils global sales arm Fox Entertainment Global, Fernando Szew named CEO

Krapopolis

Fox Entertainment is returning to international distribution with the formal launch of a new sales division, headed up by MarVista’s Fernando Szew.

Fox Entertainment Global will be based out of Fox’s LA lot and monetise the company’s owned original programming and shows belonging to MarVista Entertainment, which it acquired in 2021, while third-party shows will also be acquired for distribution.

First sight of the new-look arm will be at MIPCOM next month, with Szew taking the CEO position and reporting to Stefan Reinhardt, president of production strategy & operations.

Fernando Szew

It will be the first time a Fox-branded sales arm has been in operation since Fox Networks Group Content Distribution was folded into Disney’s sales arm, following the Mouse House acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment interests in 2019.

Shows & structure

Shows on the inaugural slate include animated series Krapopolis and Jon Hamm-starring Grimsburg, as well as single-camera comedy Animal Control. Krapopolis and Grimsburg are produced by Fox-owned Bento Box Entertainment, while Animal Control is from in-house scripted arm, Fox Entertainment Studios.

Szew will continue to run MarVista, while its COO Tony Vassiliadis has been named EVP of Fox Entertainment Global. Fox said the new sales arm will continue to work with current international distribution partners, which include Propagate Content, Incendo (for Canada) and Sony Pictures Television (which sells Fox-produced drama Monarch).

Charlie Collier, Fox Entertainment’s CEO, said the new distribution arm would be “uniquely positioned to develop customised international partnership opportunities, particularly apropos as so many competing programmers focus solely on vertical integration.”

He added it would “complement Fox Entertainment’s long-term strategy of building a disciplined in-house infrastructure that supports its growing portfolio of owned content.”

While Fox’s approach to global distribution has differed from other US studios, there have been growing signs that third-party international sales are increasingly on the agenda for companies such as Warner Bros. Discovery as they reappraise strategies that had seen almost all their content going to owned streamers.

Szew described the sales arm’s launch as “a clear representation of our building on Fox’s undeniable entrepreneurial spirit and absolute independence to bring value to our creative and platform partners.”

Fox has been busily building itself up over recent years following the $71bn sale to Disney, since when it has launched production divisions including its unscripted studio, Fox Alternative Entertainment, which produces The Masked Singer and is moving into international format development with Ireland’s The Big Deal.

Fox Entertainment Studios is behind drama Monarch and Studio Ramsay Global, while other owned entities include aforementioned animation studio Bento Box, MarVista and AVOD streamer Tubi and a growing roster of the biggest linear and streaming platforms worldwide.