or


[07/26/13 - 03:45 PM]
Pivot, New TV Network Targeting Millennials, Taps Jacob Soboroff and Cara Santa Maria as First Co-Hosts of Live, Late-Night Show, "TakePart Live"
In addition, Jim Downs has been tapped as showrunner and executive producer for the topical hour-long program set to premiere Thursday, August 1.

[via press release from Pivot]

PIVOT, NEW TV NETWORK TARGETING MILLENNIALS, TAPS JACOB SOBOROFF AND CARA SANTA MARIA AS FIRST CO-HOSTS OF LIVE, LATE-NIGHT SHOW, "TAKEPART LIVE"

Award-Winning Producer Jim Downs Named Showrunner and Executive Producer of New Topical, Interactive Series Premiering August 1st at Midnight ET/11:00 PM CT

Los Angeles, July 26, 2013 - During a presentation today for television critics, Pivot (www.pivot.tv) announced that Jacob Soboroff and Cara Santa Maria have been named first co-hosts of the network's new, interactive late night series, "TakePart Live." In addition, Jim Downs has been tapped as showrunner and executive producer for the topical hour-long program set to premiere Thursday, August 1 at 12am ET/11 pm CT. Airing live Monday through Thursday with a "best of" installment on Fridays, hosts Soboroff and Santa Maria will, along with varying experts and contributors from their Los Angeles studio, go beyond the headlines and hashtags to address the stories that matter to Millennials.

Equal parts serious discussion and comedic take, "TakePart Live" will bring celebrities, activists, newsmakers and viewers together to discuss the events that make up the fabric of daily life and how to act on the stories that move us. The nightly show will also feature live interaction via polling, social media sharing and more. Specifically, during the show, viewers will be invited to join the conversation on Twitter or on TakePart.com, where they can access articles and specific ways to take action on the issues discussed. The show will put a spotlight on what our audience is talking about today but more importantly, what they will be talking about tomorrow - from Presidential speeches to subversive ad campaigns to viral videos and memes clogging up your Facebook feeds and inboxes.

At the top of the show, the "Decoder" segment will mine news and social feeds to breakdown and demystify what's true or, in some cases, not true, about the news of the day. The last story featured in the "Decoder" is picked up in the next segment - a panel discussion with our hosts, promo guests, invited experts - and our audience. In the "Newsville" segment, outrageous headlines will be presented to the panel to test their knowledge of fact vs. fiction.

In the recurring segment "Eight Days," we challenge one of our hosts to make a lifestyle change for eight days. For example give up caffeine, go vegan, feed yourself for $3 dollars a day, give up their car, etc. Their daily activities will be documented on video and put on display for viewers to see what they are doing, how they are feeling, and eight days later, report back on what the experience was like.

Soboroff, who PAPER Magazine called "the media world's new favorite nerd-hunk," joins Pivot from "HuffPost Live," where he served as host and producer interviewing a range of newsmakers and celebrities and co-anchored coverage of Hurricane Sandy, the Newtown, Connecticut mass shooting, and special broadcasts following the 2012 presidential debates. In 2012, he contributed to MTV's election coverage and previously worked with Participant Media as host of the web series Civics In A Minute, a Webby Award honoree. That same year, his TED Talk about American voter participation was featured on the main stage of the prestigious conference. After the election of Barack Obama, Jacob developed a documentary for Participant Media about voting in America. He has also co-hosted and/or contributed to CNN, NPR's Weekend Edition, the PBS series WIRED Science, NBC's, "School Pride" and KCET's "SoCal Wanderer." While a student at NYU, Jacob was an advance man to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and presidential candidate Howard Dean.

Santa Maria, also a Huffington Post veteran, served as Senior Science correspondent for the online network, writing, producing and hosting their science web series, "Talk Nerdy to Me." Most recently, she co-hosted the Weather Channel's original series/specials "Hacking the Planet" and "The Truth About Twisters" and was a host on The Young Turks Networks. From 2004 until 2009, Cara taught biology and psychology courses to high school students and college undergraduates in Texas and New York. It is her mission to make the fascination she feels for the natural world accessible to as many people as possible. At the age of 20, Cara graduated with honors from the University of North Texas, where she studied psychology and philosophy and went on to earn her M.S. in neurobiology in 2007.

Downs has extensive experience in both interactive media and broadcast TV. Prior to this role, Jim was Vice President, SpinMedia (formerly BuzzMedia) where he designed and built video production studios, and led the development and production of original video for the company's digital properties. Before that, he was Vice President, Production Operations for Ustream Inc., where he headed up the video production division creating live, online original content for national brands, film and TV studios, and served as Executive Producer of the live, global streaming and televised broadcast event "24 Hours of Reality" with Former Vice President Al Gore and the Climate Reality Project. In 2009, Jim founded Litterbox Entertainment Inc., specializing in live multi-camera HD broadcast and digital production. In 2000, Jim helped launch G4 TV where over his eight years at the network he co-created and executive produced the iconic Attack of the Show and headed up the network's major tent pole live programming events at E3 and Comic-Con.

About Pivot

Pivot (Pivot.tv), launching August 1st, is a new television network from Participant Media serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and, through its website TakePart.com, connects audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is also changing the media landscape, available via traditional Pay TV subscription and integrating a Live and on demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot APP. In both content and delivery, Pivot is TV for The New Greatest Generation. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

About Participant Media

Participant is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant's more than 40 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR 'SUPERMAN', THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network TakePart.com and Pivot, its new television network for Millennials, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.





  [july 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· TAKEPART LIVE (PIVOT)





[11/01/24 - 02:01 PM]
HBO Orders Original Limited Drama "DTF ST. Louis" to Series
The limited series stars and is executive produced by Jason Bateman and David Harbour.

[11/01/24 - 02:00 PM]
Disney Branded Television Greenlights "How We Became the Biggest Band in the World" and "Vampirina" (Working Titles) for Disney Channel and Disney+
The Latter series is based on the books written by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, and inspired by the Disney Jr. animated series "Vampirina" from Chris Nee.

[11/01/24 - 12:48 PM]
Peacock Renews Long-Running Soap "Days of Our Lives" for 61st Season
The renewal comes on the eve of "Day of Days," the annual fan event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles being held on Saturday, November 2, where the show's 60th season will be celebrated.

[11/01/24 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Rhythm + Flow" Season 2 - Cast Announcement - Netflix
The search for the next face of hip-hop moves to Atlanta as global hitmakers Ludacris, Latto and DJ Khaled join the judging panel to mentor fresh talent.

[11/01/24 - 12:00 PM]
60 Years After Debuting on the Network, Christmas Classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Returns to NBC for a Special 75-Minute Telecast on Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Said date was the same it premiered in 1964 as part of the "General Electric Fantasy Hour."

[11/01/24 - 11:54 AM]
"High Potential" Continues Linear Dominance as ABC Wins Tuesday 10 p.m. Hour in Total Viewers for First Time in 4 Years
Season to date through week five, "High Potential" stands as ABC's most-watched (10.42 million) new series in six years - since the 2018-2019 season with "The Conners."

[11/01/24 - 10:31 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Debut Riveting First-Look at Season 3 of the Hit Noir Thriller "Dark Winds"
The series will return with all new episodes exclusively on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT.

[11/01/24 - 10:05 AM]
TBS "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT "Christmas Maximus" Kick Off Holiday Programming on Saturday, November 2
With countless blockbuster films airing over 8-weeks, TNT "Christmas Maximus" takes holiday movies to the next level, serving as a hub for endless seasonal offerings and high-energy classics.

[11/01/24 - 10:03 AM]
'Tis the Season for Holiday Cheer on ABC
Highlights include a new season of "The Great Christmas Light Fight," along with news of a season 13 pickup for 2025.

[11/01/24 - 10:00 AM]
FOX and Gordon Ramsay Count Down to the Super Bowl with "Kitchen Nightmares: Road to Super Bowl LIX"
Gordon Ramsay's iconic series returns with a supercharged two-hour episode, Wednesday, January 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), with regular episodes airing on Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT, beginning January 8 on FOX.

[11/01/24 - 09:30 AM]
Prime Video Reveals "Pimpinero: Blood and Oil" will Premiere Exclusively on November 22
The film is set in the desert bordering Colombia and Venezuela, where gasoline smugglers known as "pimpineros" risk their lives transporting illegal fuel from one country to another.

[11/01/24 - 09:06 AM]
Freeform's "25 Days of Christmas" Returns with Yuletide Cheer This December
A delightful collection of Christmas favorites is being offered to make spirits bright, including "Home Alone," "The Santa Clause" trilogy and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000).

[11/01/24 - 09:00 AM]
Watch CBS News and Stations' "America Decides: Election '24" Team Coverage Across Broadcast, Streaming and Digital
Primetime election night coverage on CBS and CBS News 24/7 will begin at 7:00 PM, ET, anchored by Norah O'Donnell from CBS News' election headquarters in New York City.

[11/01/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Miss Scarlet" Season 5 Preview
Criminals have never stumped Eliza Scarlet, but a new Detective Inspector...? She's on the case!

[11/01/24 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..." - Date Announcement - Netflix
Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor. Grammy-winning singer. Beloved comedian. Jamie Foxx returns to the stage to set the record straight.