LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — AEG has announced that it has named Eric Stevens as president of the newly-created AEG Events & Media division, where he will oversee creating “branded” national tours ranging from family entertainment properties and sports tours to special events, awards shows and corporate showcases.
Beginning with AEG’s recent purchase of the renowned figure skating tour “Champions on Ice,” the division will not only be looking to acquire existing tours and productions, but also to create new entertainment properties based on established brands, characters, tournaments, sports and intellectual properties.
“AEG Events & Media will have a long-term focus on building brands and programming across multiple platforms,” Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO of AEG said in a statement. “With AEG’s assets in the event and venue management areas as well as our touring, special events, marketing and sponsorship divisions, we have the unique ability to not only create programming but to marker and present the shows to worldwide audiences. Eric’s experience and relationships clearly make him the ideal person to both step right into the discussions already underway with several interested partners in addition to seeking new ventures with a variety of studios and producers who are looking to extend their assets and generate additional revenue streams.”
Prior to joining AEG, Stevens held executive positions at Disney and DreamWorks, as well as live family entertainment company Feld Entertainment. Throughout his career, he has been focused on building brands and entertainment franchises across all media including television, online, consumer products, promotion, home entertainment and live productions.
“In addition to working with or acquiring established franchises, AEG Events & Media has already begun to reach into the creative community to establish partnerships to develop new entertainment vehicles,” said Stevens. “By taking a comprehensive and integrated approach, we will leverage this programming to maximize revenue streams for our partners across a variety of areas, from live events and touring to merchandising and other ancillary rights, including promotion and sponsorship.”
The division will also look to develop additional platforms for their brand assets including consumer events and conventions, product launches, DVD production and marketing, publishing as well as TV and online programming.
“Having the ability to tap into our ‘in-house’ divisions such as Bounce event marketing, AEG Live Tours & Special Events, AEG Facilities and AEG Sales & Sponsorship, among others, is a unique and important asset that we can and will bring to each project we undertake,” Stevens added. “Leveraging our expertise and resources to each project will clearly maximize our ability to produce exceptional entertainment and the revenues we can generate and deliver to our partners.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
