Stefan Van Engen, an exec late of Bedrocket Media Ventures and OWN, has been named senior vice present of content programing and acquisitions at Xumo, a startup that has built an OTT video service initially focused on smart TV platforms.
In that role, he’ll develop execute Xumo’s content and acquisition strategy, including current ad-supported offerings and coming paid services that are distributed on the company’s platform.
Xumo has built an OTT service (subscription required) that streams ad-supported “channels” on range of connected TV platforms from content partners such as Time Inc., Condé Nast Entertainment, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, Mitú Network, Machinima, TYT Network and The Onion.
Xumo’s ad-based OTT service has been integrated with TVs from LG, Panasonic and Vizio TVs, and has inching toward debuts on TVs from Funai Electric, which makes and distributes TVs under the Sanyo, Philips and Magnavox brands in North America. It also has plans to release apps for mobile and desktops later this year.
Before joining Xumo, Van Engen was SVP of programming and production at Bedrocket, a digital start up, and was co-executive producer of The Gayle King Show at OWN. Has also served as a production and development executive at Rainbow Media and CSTV, now CBS Sports Network.
“Offering outstanding programming to our viewers is of utmost importance at Xumo as we strive to set the industry standard in consumer experience,” Colin Petrie-Norris, CEO of Xumo, said in a statement. “With Stefan’s extensive and valuable expertise in this area, we are better positioned to curate meaningful, original, and engaging content. We are excited to have Stefan on board as we continue to challenge the status quo in terms of the quality and variety of premium OTT content available on the market today.”
