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Renee Mascara
Press Release from Sesame Workshop
(New York, NY, September 27, 2011) Sesame Workshop, the producers behind Sesame Street, has promoted Renee Mascara to Vice President, International Media Distribution, announced Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Media Distribution. Mascara will be responsible for expanding and strengthening the Home Video and International Publishing business, as well as continue to oversee the Television Sales and Distribution business, across media platforms internationally. She will also continue to oversee the organization’s presence, including securing booth space and ad buys, at television trade shows such as DISCOP, MIP-TV, MIPcom, and NATPE.
“For over 25 years, Renee has been an integral part of Sesame Workshop’s global expansion,” said Chambers. “She has secured partnerships with the strongest and most innovative broadcasters, and in her new role has already helped to guide the Workshop in critical International Home Video negotiations. Her familiarity with the organization’s history, broadcast presence, and partners in territories outside of the US will help to build our businesses across platforms while also better leveraging the local content being produced for those territories.”
Most recently, Mascara served as Vice President, International Television Distribution, managing television program sales in the US Hispanic market, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia, Armed Forces Radio & Television Services and inflight. She was responsible for the creation and placement of the Sesame Street webkit with international broadcast partners—significantly increasing the brand’s reach and interaction with its fans. She also expanded Sesame Workshop’s presence in Latin America closing a Digital VOD deal with DLA, Inc. Redefining Entertainment. Mascara’s work included the development of television program sales, adaptations, localized Sesame Street co-productions, and new international productions.
Mascara has been with the International Television Distribution group since 1985 and has significantly expanded the organization’s presence worldwide. She was responsible for securing the first ever Sesame branded blocks in Poland, Hungary and Croatia. Mascara broke new ground for the Workshop when she secured the broadcast of Bert & Ernie’s Great Adventures, the first ever Sesame Street claymation series. She was also responsible for local productions of Big Bag in the UK and France, and Risky Numbers in Poland and Indonesia.
Before arriving at the Workshop, Mascara spent four years at Columbia Pictures International as Marketing Assistant to the Vice President of Merchandising.
Mascara earned a Master of Science in TV/Radio Production and Marketing from Brooklyn College, and Bachelor of Science in Communications Arts from St. John’s University.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at
www.sesameworkshop.org .
