Kent Rice has been named ceo of Starz Animation, a division of Starz Media, to develop and produce animated feature-length movies. Rice reports to Clasen.
Rice is a 20-year vet with executive level management experience in cable operations, telecom and TV programming, both in domestic and international markets. Most recently, he had been executive adviser to Starz Ent., helping acquire the newly named Starz Media and the integration of Starz Media with Starz Ent.
Janet Healy, former head of DreamWorks Animation and Walt Disney Feature Animation, will continue to serve as president of Starz Animation and reports to Rice.
"Combining Kent's business experience with the creative genius of Janet and her team will provide a formula for success for Starz Animation," said Robert Clasen, chairman/ceo of Starz Llc. "We are particularly excited about our upcoming feature film, EVERYONE'S HERO, and the films scheduled for release in 2007 and 2008: SPACE CHIMPS and SHEEPISH."
Rice said, "After many years running networks and cable companies, I am thrilled to be on the creative side and to have a chance to work with Janet and the team at Starz Animation. This is a complex and rapidly changing area of the entertainment world driven by cutting-edge technology and artistic genius. We intend to be nimble and innovative as we take animated feature films to the next level."
Rice was founder/president of Il Ponte Partners, a consulting group. From 1995-2004, he served as president/ceo for International Channel Networks, a subsidiary of Liberty Media. Prior to that, Rice was coo for Liberty Global's Norway division and was a division president for Time Warner Cable.
Rice is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and serves on the board of directors for Tower of Babel, a California broadcast TV startup.
Starz Media (www.starz.com) is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Ent. and Manga Ent. brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming, including theatrical films and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the U.S. and internationally. Starz Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group.
