by Jason Snell
Disney hires ex-Apple exec to guide video launch
Janko Roettgers at Variety:
Disney’s BAMTech Media has hired former Apple and Samsung executive Kevin Swint as SVP and GM, Disney SVOD Service, to build, and ultimately run, the company’s upcoming Netflix competitor, Variety has learned.
Most recently, Swint worked as VP product / content & services for Samsung, where he built out the company’s Milk Music streaming service as well as Milk Video, a mobile video aggregation service. Before that, he worked for five years at Apple, heading the worldwide iTunes movie business. Earlier in his career, Swint led digital products and services for Walmart.
Disney is gearing up to launch several streaming services, including an ESPN-branded one focused on sports and at least one more entertainment brand that will definitely be competing with Netflix. Interesting to see that they’ve picked someone who put in time working on movies at iTunes (not running a streaming service). The Apple-Hollywood connection runs both ways.