Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Names Phil Oppenheim as Chief Content Officer

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), one of the largest operators of advertising-supported video on demand (AVOD) streaming services, today announced the appointment of entertainment and streaming industry veteran Phil Oppenheim, as chief content officer. In this newly created role which begins on November 1, Oppenheim will lead all facets of content strategy across physical and streaming brands, including Redbox and Crackle, helping to grow revenue and profits. He will report to Jonathan Katz, president, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. 

Oppenheim was previously Senior Vice President of program scheduling at MGM’s Epix Networks. He led the programming team and successfully stewarded Epix’s linear and SVOD premium linear services and their streaming extensions under the Epix banner. Oppenheim also was responsible for the streaming content and branding for ScreenPix’s suite of ad-free channels, as well as Epix Now. Before Epix, he was Chief Curator and Pop Culture Officer and Senior Vice President, Programming for Lionsgate where he led the content launch of Comic-Con HQ, a multi-platform SVOD service, as well as Kevin Hart’s LOL AVOD service. Prior to Lionsgate, Oppenheim spent several decades at Turner Broadcasting in ascending roles, beginning his career driving the launch of TCM, and ultimately ending as Senior Vice President, Programming for TNT and TBS, overseeing content strategy, linear programming and scheduling, as well as the digital content team responsible for streaming and Video on Demand (VOD).

“Phil is a true unicorn. He’s an executive with wide-ranging experience across multiple streaming brands and business models, along with vast experience leading some of TV’s most successful linear networks,” said Jonathan Katz, president of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “Phil has helped grow audience and revenue at every point in his career, and we’re incredibly lucky to have him as part of the team.”

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) operates video-on-demand streaming services (VOD). The company owns Crackle Plus, which owns and operates a variety of ad-supported VOD streaming services including Crackle, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Popcornflix. The company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media and 1091 Pictures subsidiaries and produces original video content through the Chicken Soup for the Soul Television Group. The company recently acquired Redbox which operates a rapidly growing digital streaming service that provides both ad-supported (AVOD) and paid movies from Hollywood studios and hundreds of content partners, as well as over 145 channels of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST). Redbox also operates its popular kiosks across the US at thousands of retail locations – giving consumers affordable access to the latest in entertainment. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.