In recognition of Disney Junior's overwhelming success and contributions it has made to The Walt Disney Company, Nancy Kanter has been promoted to executive Vice president, original programming and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, to whom Kanter reports.
Marsh said, "Nancy's vision for
Disney Junior has transformed it into a creative powerhouse for our youngest viewers and their parents, adding content that has captivated millions of new viewers -- and simultaneously creating vibrant new opportunities for every other line of business at the Walt Disney Company."
Kanter leads the creative content for
Disney Junior globally, unifying the creative vision and ensuring cohesiveness between programming, promotion and extensions of the brand. Under her leadership,
Disney Junior delivered its biggest year (2012) on record for the programming block on
Disney Channel and the year's top 3 cable TV series among Kids 2-5. Since reporting public ratings (as of April 1, 2013), the 24-hour
Disney Junior channel has ranked as TV's #1 preschool-dedicated network for 16 consecutive weeks among Kids 2-5, outperforming
Nick Jr. by double digits and Sprout by triple digits each week. The channel launched in March 2012.
Disney Junior's momentum on television and its deep connection with kid and parent viewers has driven growing demand, leading to successful expansions for hit series across multiple lines of Disney businesses including Disney Parks' attractions, storybooks, consumer products, apps, appisodes, DVDs and CDs.
Kanter will continue to oversee development and production for all
Disney Junior series including cable TV's #1 preschool series "Sofia the First" and the Emmy Award-nominated "Doc McStuffins," "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," as well as hit short-form series "Minnie's Bow-Toons" and "A Poem Is..." and the popular
Disney Junior Night Light, a nightly block of parent-targeted, kid-friendly short-form programming that airs interstitially on Disney Junior. The upcoming programming slate for
Disney Junior includes: "Sheriff Callie's Wild West," a western for preschoolers starring Mandy Moore as
The Voice of a lovable kitty cat sheriff, and "The 7D," a comedic take on the world of Seven Dwarfs set in a contemporary storybook world designed for young viewers and their families.
Kanter joined
Disney Channel in 2001 and over the past 12 years has led the successful rebrand of Playhouse Disney to Disney Junior, establishing the brand as a global powerhouse with a total of 33
Disney Junior channels in 24 languages around the world. She recently formed the
Disney Junior Educational Resource Group, an in-house team responsible for the curriculum development and focus group studies of
Disney Junior content and brand extensions. She also established a council of academic advisors, comprised of experts in the fields of transmedia, storytelling, early education, language development, diversity, emotional learning, digital trends and literacy, to guide Disney Junior's learning and development curriculum designed specifically for kids age 2-7.
A native of New York, Kanter graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Theatre. Kanter is based in Burbank, California, at the headquarters of Disney Channels Worldwide.
Photo by: ABC/Edward Herrera
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