under the leadership of Koch and Rosenberg. At MIP-TV (see preview on pg. 20) E1 will premiere its newer, consolidated self with a larger stand in the Palais des Festivals’ Riviera Seaview and is planning a big party for Monday night. The company will hit the market with 268 new hours of television programming — nearly half of which were produced internally — and a small army of around 20 executives. “We’re a one-stop shop for all your needs,” said Valerie Cabrera, evp, E1 Television International, who operates out of the firm’s Los Angles bureau, and handles sales to France, Italy, Benelux, Latin America and Hispanic U.S. While she’s proud of a lot of E1’s programming, she’s most confident in the prospects for Majority Rules, a live-action/animation hybrid series that’s a co-production with Canada’s Teletoon and The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, a Hallmark madefor-TV movie that will star Academy Award-winner and star of HBO’s True Blood, Anna Paquin. She’s also excited about the fact that the company has a wide array of primetime offerings, including a soon-to-be-named Canadian drama with what she termed “a wellknown” cast. And while her company’s put the kibosh on buying any new firms for the time being due to the credit crunch, Cabrera isn’t letting financial worries get her down. In fact, she’s not at all concerned that attendance will be diminished at the Cannes convention. “As far as buyers go, I don’t think there will be fewer people,” she said. “I just think they’ll be pickier, which is good for us since we have so much to offer.” The new year is shaping up to be a good one for E1, and Emerson, for one, sees nothing but blue skies ahead: “We’re getting more product — decidedly better product — and when things rebound we’ll get back on the acquisition trail.” MA R C H/ AP R I L 2 0 0 9 became E1 Kids (under E1 Television). These four divisions (or pillars) represent the company’s operations in film distribution and television and music production/distribution. In addition to its Toronto headquarters, the company also boasts offices in New York City, Nashville, Benelux and London. Barna-Alper, Blueprint and Oasis were folded into E1 Television. Former Blueprint head John Morayniss was tapped as CEO, while Barna-Alper founder Laszlo Barna was named president. Emerson, founder of Oasis, was dubbed president of E1 Television International. Under the E1 Films heading, Canadian distributors Seville Pictures and Maximum Films combined to form E1 Entertainment Canada under the leadership of co-presidents David Reckziegel and Bryan Gliserman, while U.K.-based Contender began operating as E1 Entertainment U.K. under managing director Richard Bridgwood. Seville International and Maximum International also combined to form E1 Films International. And Koch Entertainment founder Michael Koch and Koch executive Michael Rosenberg were appointed to head E1’s U.S. film distribution under the E1 Entertainment U.S. banner. As for E1 Music, Koch was named CEO, overseeing E1 Records and E1 Music Publishing and Koch Canada became E1 Music Canada. Under the E1 Distribution division, E1’s Canadian wholesale unit changed its name to E1 Entertainment Distribution Canada under the leadership of Terry Stevens. And Koch Distribution was retagged E1 Entertainment Distribution U.S., also C omp a n y P r o f i l e ( C o n t i n u e d ) (Continued from Page 28) Valerie Cabrera, evp, E1 Television International
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