ESPN has hired former NFL Media exec Brian Lockhart as executive producer, ESPN+ Original Content, effective immediately. In his new position, Lockhart will oversee strategy and development for all ESPN+ Original Content initiatives including new projects and existing shows such as Detail, More Than An Athlete, The Board Room, Earn Everything, Quest for the Stanley Cup, Draft Academy, among others for the subscription streaming service.
Lockhart will be based in New York, reporting to Libby Geist, vice president and executive producer, ESPN Films & Original Content. He’ll work closely with executives across both ESPN and DTCI’s Disney Streaming Services group, including Russell Wolff, executive vice president and general manager, ESPN+ and Craig Lazarus, vice president, ESPN Original Content & Features, who will continue to oversee production on ESPN+ original series. Adam Neuhaus, director of content development, and his team will report directly to Lockhart.
“Brian is an award-winning content creator who brings an incredibly creative mind and a vast array of experience in series development and sports media to this newly-created position,” said Geist. “With the development of ESPN+, we are building new and more direct connections between our content and sports fans. Brian has found great success as a creative force, strategic mind and producer of great content on digital platforms – we are absolutely thrilled to welcome him on board.”
Lockhart most recently served as vice president of NFL Media’s Original Content Group. During his time at NFL Media, he also served as Vice President of Content Development & Programming and, before that, as a coordinating producer for features. Prior to the NFL, Lockhart was a senior features producer and then creative director for HBO Sports. The new role also represents a homecoming of sorts for Lockhart, who held production positions at ABC Sports and ESPN early in his career, before joining HBO.
ESPN+, which surpassed one million paying subscribers in just five months, is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from and The Walt Disney Company’s Direct To Consumer and International segment (DTCI) and ESPN.
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