Screen Engine/ASI Hires Leader for New TV News Group

Century City, California-based TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has appointed Steve Ridge as Executive Vice President of its recently formed Television News Group.

SE/ASI offers services such as movie test screenings; creative ad testing; in-theater exit polling; TV program and promo testing; and pre-release tracking of movie, TV and home entertainment titles. The new Television News Group focuses on providing national and local TV news divisions with insights to help them reach and retain their viewers. Methods and tools include market landscape and brand studies, talent and promo research, content dial-testing with focus groups, and digital / mobile usability studies.

Ridge (pictured) joins after 36 years at strategy and custom research company Magid, where he latterly served as COO and Head of Local Media, having joined to run the firm's consulting service. He began his career as a TV news reporter, holding various on-and-off air TV news positions including producer, anchor and news director.

SE/ASI CEO and founder Kevin Goetz comments: 'When we started discussing both the status as well as the future of TV news, Steve and I jointly concluded that innovation and fresh thinking is definitely needed. Combining Steve's expertise with ours presents a potent collaboration of resources which can bring real value to news clients. I envision us revolutionizing news content monetization strategy'.

Web site: www.screenengineasi.com .