Los Angeles, December 3, 2021– Sharon Kroll Cohen, a media industry veteran and former Nickelodeon executive vice president, has been named to lead marketing efforts for Sensical, a newly launched, age-appropriate streaming service for kids 2-10, it was announced today by Eric Berger, CEO, Common Sense Networks to whom she will report.
Cohen, who will be based in New York, had been a senior advisor to Common Sense Networks prior to the launch of the lauded streaming service this past summer. In her new role as VP, Marketing, she will spearhead brand and strategy to fuel growth and awareness of the OTT destination.
Cohen will oversee content marketing, social media marketing, public relations and events, consumer insights, and user acquisition and customer lifecycle marketing across earned and organic channels. She will also have oversight of editorial partnership programs, as well as affiliate marketing with Sensical's device partners.
Sensical, inspired by the work of Common Sense Media (a ratings and review service trusted by parents for almost two decades) is anchored by a highly curated catalogue of studio and digital first content featuring popular titles and characters kids love. Nominated this week for a Kidscreen Award for "Best Kids-Only Streaming Service," Sensical is algorithm-free and is filtered and rated for quality through a proprietary rubric based on the latest child development research available.
In making the announcement, Berger said, "Over the past year, I've had the privilege of partnering closely with Sharon on the launch of Sensical. Bringing the streaming service to life during the course of the pandemic certainly had its set of challenges, but Sharon's commitment to excellence and determination to succeed impressed me beyond words. As we build and grow this best-in-class service in a highly competitive ecosystem, I can't imagine anyone better suited to lead our marketing efforts and ensure that our distinctive brand gains traction with audiences and is seen as a new benchmark in children's digital media."
Cohen said, "After two decades at Viacom building what is arguably linear's most recognizable kids brand, I knew that my next role needed to be within an organization that was fearless in its go-to-market approach as well as empowering in terms of its message. I have found both of these attributes in Common Sense Networks and Sensical. I look forward to embarking on this next chapter, with Eric and the rest of the talented leadership team, to grow this special brand in the months ahead."
Previously, Cohen was Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Experiences, where she expanded the Nickelodeon brand and IP beyond their linear and digital platforms through real-word experiences. She oversaw strategic planning, development of location-based experiences spanning hotels, theme parks, live shows and theatricals, festivals, and brand activations and was instrumental in bringing to life some of Nick's most prominent experiences, including: the sold-out JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. tour in partnership with AEG; Nickelodeon SlimeFest, the brand's U.S.-based multi-day music festival, the Tony award winning SpongeBob Musical and the globally sold-out PAW Patrol Live tours.
During her 20-year tenure with Viacom (now ViacomCBS) Cohen held several senior positions including Executive Vice President, Partner Marketing, where she created and built innovative collaborations with advertising and recreation and sports marketing partners across multiple Nickelodeon lines of business and screens as well as Senior Vice President, Integrated and Retail Marketing, where Cohen worked with consumer products, programming, digital, production and promotions teams to develop new revenue-generating integration opportunities across Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, TeenNick and Kids' Choice Awards. She also led their Integrated Solutions Group, crafting strategy and overseeing Nickelodeon's annual Upfront presentations and outreach to the ad trade community
Cohen holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and lives in New York City with her husband and two college age sons.
Press Contacts:
Sheila Feren Thurston
FerenComm for Common Sense Networks
Email: sheilaf@ferencomm.com
About Sensical
Free to explore, free to learn, and free to watch, Sensical, from Common Sense Networks, is a new streaming service for kids offering thousands of entertaining, age-appropriate videos featuring characters and creators that children love. Inspired by the expertise of Common Sense Media, the ad-supported service features content for three distinct age groups -- ages 2-4 (Preschool), 5-7 (Little Kids), and 8-10 (Big Kids) -- all screened by experts and filtered through a rigorous, proprietary rubric based on the most comprehensive child development research available. Grounded in science, the topic-driven, 60+ channel service is certified by the kidSAFE+ ® COPPA Seal Program and offers families an algorithm-free, worry-free OTT destination via an array of streaming devices, smart TV manufacturers, and mobile devices. Follow us @SensicalTV on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Common Sense Networks
Setting a new benchmark in children's digital media, Common Sense Networks supports kids' social, emotional and cognitive development by creating engaging, age-appropriate experiences that empower them to do and be more. Common Sense Networks meets children where they are with a broad and inclusive range of safe, family-facing services and curated content initiatives including streaming video options like Sensical, a newly launched free, topic-based streaming service for kids 2-10 inspired by the work of Common Sense Media, a trusted resource to parents for almost two decades. In addition, Common Sense Networks, a for-profit affiliate of Common Sense Media and a Public Benefit Corporation, proudly aligns with leading brands and media entities like TikTok to reimagine their existing platform approach and activate meaningful and lasting change in the kids' media ecosystem. Follow us @commonsensenets on Twitter and Instagram.