IGN Entertainment Expands Video Operations, Brings On Wade Beckett As Chief Programming Officer

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IGN Entertainment, a division of Ziff Davis, announced today the expansion of its video operations with the appointment of Wade Beckett as Chief Programming Officer and SVP of Video. Beckett will lead IGN's cross-platform video initiatives from the company's Los Angeles studio.

Beckett has worked in film, TV and digital for 15+ years and most recently served as Chief Programming Officer and Sr. Vice President of Production, at Fusion -- a Disney/ABC & Univision joint venture. Beckett supervised all aspects of programming, development and production at the network, including non-scripted series, documentaries, specials, and live events. 

Before joining Fusion, Beckett served as the Executive Producer for ESPN's SportsNation. He spent over six years as a key executive at NBCUniversal's G4 network, the first dedicated TV channel about games and fan culture, helping lead the channel from a young startup network to a Top 10 Cable network for its target demographic.

"I'm excited to welcome Wade to oversee all aspects of IGN's studio operations, including original content, branded video production, and partnerships," said Peer Schneider, GM and Co-Founder of IGN Entertainment. "Advertisers are increasingly looking to go beyond pre-roll with custom programs while platforms and content distributors are seeking differentiated original programming that speaks to the fan culture audience. The combination of IGN's 20-year brand credibility in gaming and entertainment coupled with Wade's experience in delivering original programming will cement IGN's position as a leader in video for games and geek culture across all screens."

IGN Entertainment was founded in 1999, but the IGN brand goes back to 1996 when it first launched as an online gaming magazine, rapidly expanding into other verticals as well as video content production and distribution. Today, IGN programs games and entertainment content for 132 million monthly users across 12 platforms, including mobile devices, Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. IGN's expanded content network also includes a daily destination on Snapchat Discover as well as a YouTube network with more than 9 million subscribers.

"There's never been a more interesting time for video than today and I can't wait to get started with the IGN Entertainment team," said Wade Beckett. "From high quality short form content on emerging platforms to longer, lean-back experiences across more traditional platforms, I'm super excited to help lead an awesome and experienced team with such a passionate audience."

In addition to producing original content at its SF and LA studios, IGN's Social Video Team creates custom editorial and partner video programming for 20 million followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

Prior to serving as Executive Producer at Comcast and NBCUniversal, Beckett held positions with ZDTV, Tech TV, DreamWorks, NBC's Peter Engel Productions, TV Guide Channel, and CinemaLine. Beckett earned his B.A in Cinema from San Francisco State University and is a member of the Producers Guild of America. 

About IGN Entertainment

IGN Entertainment is the leading Internet media company focused on the video game and entertainment enthusiast markets. IGN reaches more than 132 million monthly users and is followed by more than 9 million subscribers on YouTube and 20 million users on social platforms.

Established in 1996, IGN is operated by digital media company Ziff Davis, LLC, a subsidiary of j2 Global, Inc. IGN is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney and London. IGN content is localized in 24 languages and 114 countries and hosted on websites and native applications on mobile, connected TV, and Xbox and PlayStation platforms. For more information, visit www.IGN.com and follow @IGN on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

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SOURCE IGN Entertainment

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