Press Releases

CULVER CITY, CA, February 18, 2022 - Sony Pictures Television (SPT) today announced that Joe D’Ambrosia has been named EVP & General Manager of Silvergate Media, the award-winning media company that develops, produces and licenses top children’s programming. D’Ambrosia will begin his new role April 1, 2022 and be based in SPT’s Culver City, CA headquarters while also spending time with Silvergate’s teams in New York and London. He will report to Ravi Ahuja, Chairman Global Television Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Corporate Development.

In this role, D’Ambrosia will serve as Silvergate’s creative and strategic business leader, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. He will work closely with the Silvergate team to drive continued growth and maximize opportunities to expand the company’s position in the market. D’Ambrosia will take over for Silvergate CEO Waheed Alli, who will be stepping down this summer.

“Joe has a proven track record in leading a successful children’s programming business and knows this unique segment inside and out. His extensive experience in all aspects of the business and his passion for bringing inspired children’s content to life make him a natural fit for the role,” said Ahuja. “Waheed has done a wonderful job in building Silvergate into a thriving, multi-faceted company and we are grateful for his leadership in delivering some of the most popular franchises in children’s entertainment. We wish him all the best for the future.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Sony Pictures Television and Silvergate at such an exciting and pivotal time in kids’ entertainment,” said D’Ambrosia. “In my 10 years at Disney Junior, I have had the good fortune of working alongside one of the best teams in the business. This is the ideal next step to be collaborating with Ravi and the incredibly innovative and creative teams at Sony and Silvergate to produce world-class storytelling for kids and families around the globe.” 

D’Ambrosia comes to Silvergate from Disney Junior, where he served as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, overseeing all extensions of the Disney Junior brand, on-and-off screen, as well as all development and production of Disney's original programming content for kids 2-7, and acquisitions for the preschooler demographic.

D’Ambrosia joined Disney in 2011 as Vice President, Original Programing of Disney Junior before being promoted to Senior Vice President in 2016 and then to General Manager in 2019. He was instrumental in transforming Playhouse Disney into Disney Junior, and helped steer the Disney Junior channel to be the #1 preschool network every year since launch. Growing the brand for Disney across all platforms, he worked across all lines of business to maintain Disney Junior as the #1 cable network for kids 2 -7.

D’Ambrosia has overseen production and creative development for some of Disney Junior's most popular series, including the Peabody Award-winning "Doc McStuffins," the Emmy® Award-winning "Sofia the First," "Muppet Babies," "Elena of Avalor," "Mira, Royal Detective," and "Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends." He was also instrumental in expanding the global hit series "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” with development and production of multiple new series such as “Mickey Mouse Funhouse.”

Prior to his tenure at Disney Channel, D'Ambrosia produced and developed children's television programming and family films at Murray Hill 5 Productions, which he co-founded with partner Tom Teves. Together, they developed, wrote, and produced "Astro Boy" and created "Golden Bridges," based on the classic book series "Golden Books," for The Learning Channel. Before forming Murray Hill 5 Productions, D'Ambrosia helped launch Sony Pictures Family Entertainment, overseeing the development and production of numerous family films and television series. He began his career at Nickelodeon where he launched their family film division, serving as the development and production executive on their first live-action feature, "Harriet the Spy," and their first animated feature, "Rugrats, The Movie."

D'Ambrosia graduated from Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater.

About Silvergate
Silvergate Media is an award-winning media company developing world-class children’s brands with offices in London, New York and operations in China. The company’s productions include Octonauts, Peter Rabbit, Hilda, and Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt for Netflix, and Sunny Day for Nickelodeon. Silvergate Media has an extensive development slate and is in production on a number of commissions for new properties from partners such as Disney, Netflix and Ten Cent as well as producing a string of new content for hit shows Octonauts and Hilda.

Silvergate’s world-renowned content is created by its talented team of Executive Producers in New York. The company’s London-based commercial team builds global IP franchises via content distribution, consumer products, live entertainment and attractions partners. China is a particular area of expertise. Silvergate Media was acquired by Sony Pictures Television in 2019.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.