Brown Johnson
President Animation, Nick Jr.
30 minutes with Brown Johnson, EVP, Nick Jr.

Brown Johnson is Executive Vice President, Nick Jr. In this capacity, Johnson leads the efforts of Nickelodeon's popular and critically acclaimed preschool block, Nick Jr., which airs weekdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (ET/PT). She oversees the growth and expansion of Nick Jr., including the development and production of original programming. She is also behind its breakout, play-along series, Blue's Clues, winner of the Prix Jeunesse and Parent's Choice awards and a very successful retail property. A recent University of Alabama study has proved that Nick Jr. programming, Blue's Clues in particular, improves preschoolers' thinking skills and pro-social behavior.

Most recently, Johnson developed three animated programs, including the Emmy- Award winning Little Bill, created by Bill Cosby; Dora the Explorer, a play-along adventure series that features a Latina heroine; and Oswald, a lyrical classic, created by acclaimed author Dan Yaccarino. Johnson assembled a Nick Jr. advisory board of child development experts with whom Nickelodeon has been working to develop Nick Jr. programming and ancillary businesses. In addition, Brown integrates Nick Jr. programming into Nickelodeon's consumer products, Nick Jr. magazine and Nickjr.com.

Johnson joined Nickelodeon in 1987 as Executive in Charge of Production, where her first project was Kid's Court, an Action for Children's Television Award-winner. As Executive Producer, Johnson was pivotal in creating Eureeka's Castle, the cornerstone of the early Nick Jr. programming block and winner of ACE, ACT and Parents' Choice Awards.

In 1989, Johnson was promoted to Vice President, Production for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, where she oversaw all Nickelodeon production, production management, talent and Nickelodeon Studios' production staff in Florida. Under her auspices, series such as Clarissa Explains It All, Roundhouse, Welcome Freshman, Nickelodeon GUTS, What Would You Do?, Hey Dude and Wild & Crazy Kids were produced and contributed to Nickelodeon's standing as one of the world's leading producers of kids' programming.

In 1993, she became Vice President/Executive Producer of Nick Jr. Production and Development. Nickelodeon invested more than 30 million dollars in original preschool television and Johnson was responsible for launching daily original series in the block including Gullah Gullah Island, Allegra's Window, Maurice Sendak's Little Bear, Franklin, Kipper, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, and Bob the Builder. As a result, Nick Jr. doubled its ratings over the past three years. Brown also supervises the successful Nick Jr. block on CBS Saturday mornings, which has more than doubled its rating since its launch in September 2000.

Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Johnson was Director of Program Planning for Showtime/The Movie Channel, where she developed program strategies for the two services. Additionally, she was Vice President, Acquisitions for Vestron Video, responsible for film acquisitions, production deals and pre-buys for video distribution in the United States and overseas. Ms. Johnson began her TV career working for Bob Pittman, who was then VP of programming for Warner/Amex's The Movie Channel.

Johnson attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.