Nickelodeon’s International SVP of production and development Nina Hahn has been tapped by ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) to oversee the launch of a new kids’ programming initiative.
VIS Kids is broadening its global kids content pipeline to include short and long-form content that will be produced and sold to third parties, as well as to ViacomCBS brands and platforms.
In her newly expanded role, Hahn is charged with growing VIS Kids’ global footprint by finding and developing new animated and live-action content for preschoolers and kids.
Hahn will work closely with the studio’s development and production teams in Latin America, the UK, Spain and Israel, along with an expanded central team encompassing international development and production, sales and distribution.
Based in London, Hahn now reports to ViacomCBS Networks Americas president Juan “JC” Acosta, who was also recently promoted to president of ViacomCBS International Studios. Hahn will also continue to report to Jules Borkent, EVP of kids and family at ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI).
According to VIS, the studio has generated nearly 50% revenue growth on average since it launched in 2018, and kids content has played a big part, especially successful shows such as Club 57 and Noobees. VIS Kids is now planning to develop more than 30 new kids shows over the next three years.
Among the studio’s recently announced titles is SharkDog, its first international series made for Netflix as part of a multi-year agreement signed last November. The animated series was spawned from Nickelodeon’s first global shorts program, which has been led by Hahn.
Hahn has been a key figure in the development of other properties, including Deer Squad, a co-production with China’s I
She has also been a key figure in Nick International productions including Deer Squad and The Twisted Timelines of Sammy & Raj, the brand’s first collab with India’s Viacom18.