Superna Kalle has been promoted to President, International Networks at Starz. President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch made the announcement today.
Kalle previously served as Executive Vice President for International Digital Networks at Starz where she joined in 2018 to lead the international expansion of STARZPLAY, now available in 58 countries globally.
Reporting directly to Hirsch, Kalle oversees the international division’s growth for STARZPLAY including all aspects of programming and production on STARZPLAY international original series, distribution, marketing and publicity, along with Lionsgate Play. While at STARZ, Kalle has solidified STARZPLAY’s presence in Europe, Latin America and Canada, and continues to expand the footprint making Starz one of the world’s leading pure-play subscription platforms.
“Superna is an incredibly talented and strategic executive who has demonstrated her acute business expertise to help expand STARZ into the global premium SVOD service it is today,” said Hirsch. “She has done a superb job of building a successful international division from the ground up that has formed strategic distribution partnerships and international original productions that contribute to our company’s innovation and distinction. I look forward to even greater global growth under her continued leadership.”
Prior to joining STARZ, Kalle was a senior advisor to several media companies guiding them on international SVOD strategy, digital operations, restructuring and global business development. Major clients included Starz, Lionsgate and CBS/Showtime.
Kalle spent 16 years at Sony Pictures Television (SPT) where she served as Senior Vice President and GM, Networks. Based out of SPT’s headquarters in Culver City, Calif, Kalle oversaw the company’s television networks portfolio and equity investments in the U.S. and Canada. For the U.S., she launched and served as general manager of the wholly-owned Sony networks, Sony Movie Channel, SPT’s first multi-platform television network; Cine Sony Television, SPT’s Spanish language movie network; and getTV, the Company’s first digital subchannel dedicated to classic programming. Kalle also served on the board of other popular cable and digital channels, including GSN (Game Show Network, LLC) and fearNET (a joint venture with Lionsgate and Comcast). In Canada, Kalle oversaw SPT’s partnership with Hollywood Suite, which carried the Sony Movie Channel brand.
Prior to her domestic role at Sony, she was Senior Vice President, International Networks and held multiple Board positions at SPT’s television networks business in India, Japan and pan-Asia. Kalle also previously served as SPT’s Vice President, International Networks. She joined SPT from parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), where she had served as Vice President, Corporate Development. She joined SPE as Manager, Corporate Development in 1999.
Kalle currently serves on the Board of Directors for STARZPLAY Arabia, as a Director of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and on the Board of Trustees of Woodbury University. Among her honors and awards, Kalle has been recognized as one of Cablefax’s “Most Powerful Women” and “Top Women in Media” multiple times, and was named a Multichannel News/NAMIC Luminary for her accomplishments overseeing Sony Movie Channel. She is also proud to be a Mentor in the 2021 Women in Entertainment (WIE) Mentorship Program (BBBSLA).
