BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial content studio and media & streaming business, has announced changes to the management team at BritBox International
Starting April 1, Robert Schildhouse has been appointed to the expanded role of President of BritBox North America, and General Manager of BritBox International, based in New York.
Kerry Ball will continue in her role as Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer based in London. Schildhouse and Ball will now both report to Rebecca Glashow, CEO, BBC Global Media & Streaming. The moves follow BBC Studios recent acquisition of BritBox International, the leading specialist British streaming service delivering quality British scripted content to passionate fans.
Schildhouse brings a wealth of experience to this new position. Having most recently served as General Manager, North America, and Group Editorial for BritBox International, he has been instrumental in driving the streaming service’s business growth in the United States and Canada, while leading its global Content and Editorial organization. As part of his expanded role, Schildhouse will assume responsibility for product/technology and marketing, in addition to editorial.
Since its launch in 2017, BritBox International has solidified its position in the specialty streaming marketplace. The service boasts a remarkable track record of growth and profitability, with subscribers increasing by over 300% in the past four years and it is set for a record year this year.
“Robert’s commitment, creativity and passion for the business make him the optimal leader to drive the continued success of BritBox and I’m looking forward to working with him,” said Glashow. “With Robert’s deep understanding of the streaming landscape, combined with our world-class leadership team and staff, BritBox is poised for an exciting next phase of growth in the BBC portfolio.”
Schildhouse has been at the forefront of the streaming media industry from its inception, as part of the launch team at Hulu and then in leadership roles at CBS, where he was pivotal in securing groundbreaking content deals, and most recently in expanding BritBox’s reach to passionate fans across the globe.
“I am thrilled to take on this expanded role at such a pivotal moment for BritBox International. We have had an incredible year of growth and are uniquely positioned to solidify our standing as the premier destination for delivering quality British content to our loyal and expanding subscriber base,” said Schildhouse. “Great stories can come from anywhere, and we remain committed to curating premium content from the deep and varied creative community across the UK, including ITV, independent producers and from within BBC Studios.”
BritBox International brings the best of British entertainment to international audiences, all in one place. It offers a world class collection of originals, co-productions, and other popular scripted and live programming. Recent hits include Archie, Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Line of Duty, Sherwood and Shetland.