Speaker Michael Ouweleen

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Michael Ouweleen

President, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Family, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies

Adult Swim

Michael Ouweleen is the president of Adult Swim, WarnerMedia’s network offering original and acquired animated and live action series for young adults. In this role, Ouweleen is responsible for all aspects of content planning, development, windowing, marketing and creative for Adult Swim and its properties globally. He also oversees linear programming, streaming, digital products, live events and mobile games related to Adult Swim shows, characters and other IP.

Ouweleen began his career with Cartoon Network in 1996 as associate creative director of the on-air department. Within six months, he was promoted to vice president and creative director. In this capacity, he served as the primary writer/producer of on-air short-form material aimed at establishing Cartoon Network’s distinctive brand identity, winning multiple industry awards for his team’s creative accomplishments. Ouweleen was also a key member of the small team that championed and launched Adult Swim.

While serving as Creative Director for the new block of programming, he also co-created, co-executive produced and co-wrote one of the first Adult Swim original series, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. His accomplishments brought both networks significant industry and pop culture buzz, and got Ouweleen named to Entertainment Weekly’s creative “It List” for the year 2000.

In 2003, as SVP of development and programming, Ouweleen oversaw the creation of such animated hits as Ben 10, Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, as well as the network’s first live-action adaptation of a network property, Ben 10: Race Against Time.

Prior to joining Cartoon Network, Ouweleen worked in advertising in New York and on several animated projects. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a major in both English and Theology.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is a WarnerMedia network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is the #1 network with persons 18-24, 18-34 and 18-49 and is seen in 85 million U.S. homes.

WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, CNN, DC Entertainment, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, truTV and others.

WarnerMedia is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).

Speaking on: 30 Minutes With: Adult Swim

At the Banff Media Festival, we met with Netflix and took a ride up Sulphur Mountain on the gondola. That’s where we made the pitch.
- Naveen Prasad, EVP and GM, Elevation Pictures

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