SkyShowtime appoints former Netflix executive Kai Finke as Chief Content Officer

Finke previously served as Netflix’s Director of Content for EMEA

Finke will lead SkyShowtime’s programming team

Key focus will be growing SkyShowtime Originals

SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan today announced that former Netflix executive Kai Finke has been appointed Chief Content Officer.

Based in Amsterdam and reporting to Sarhan, Finke will lead the programming team. In this new role, Finke will oversee the vast and growing scope of the department, following SkyShowtime’s entry into original programming this year. Finke will be responsible for programming strategy, overseeing the service’s top-quality pipeline of partner studio entertainment, merchandising and scheduling, and SkyShowtime’s original programming slate and acquisitions.

Jon Farrar has decided to leave SkyShowtime following a transition over the coming months.

Finke joins SkyShowtime from Netflix, where he was one of their EMEA-based employees and most recently worked as Director of Content across multiple European markets. He has worked in production, international distribution, and acquisitions for more than 20 years, including for Munich-based distributor Telepool and for Vodafone.

He has strong relationships with leading creatives, producers, distributors, and networks throughout Europe and a proven track record of bringing local-language entertainment to SkyShowtime markets as well as global audiences.

This year, SkyShowtime will have launched 10 original series including Bosé, Codename: Annika, Fleeting Lies, Poker Face, The Invisible Ladies, The Winner, and Warszawianka. A key part of Finke’s focus will be to build on that success by bringing in new projects and acquisitions that resonate with local audiences across SkyShowtime’s markets. His mandate will also include working closely with SkyShowtime’s shareholders as well as leaders across the company to optimize subscriber acquisition, engagement, and retention.

Sarhan said: “Kai is a proven programming executive who brings together strong creative sensibilities with business acumen. As we continue to expand into original programming, his wide range of experience—along with his knowledge of our markets—make him the ideal choice to lead our programming team in this next chapter of our growth.”

Finke said: “SkyShowtime’s continued push into local programming, in addition to the global exclusive series and movies available from Paramount and NBCUniversal, make the service hugely compelling for both audiences and the creative industries across Europe.  I am hugely excited about the opportunity to be a part of the SkyShowtime team that brings this amazing entertainment line-up to over 20 markets.”

ENDS

About SkyShowtime   

SkyShowtime is Europe’s newest streaming service. A joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global, SkyShowtime brings together the best of Hollywood and local entertainment in one place.

From movies, and original series from the iconic brands of Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks Animation, Paramount+, SHOWTIME®, Sky Studios, and Peacock to SkyShowtime Original series, SkyShowtime is Europe’s new home for premium entertainment.

Launched across all of its markets earlier this year, SkyShowtime is available in: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. It is available through select television providers in some markets and across Apple iOS, tvOS, Android devices, Android TV, Google Chromecast, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and the web.