Lego spins off production arm

Shingle to pursue projects not tied to company's toy lines

By DAVID BLOOM

Chapman

Danish toy giant Lego has taken a brick out of its wall, building production company Create TV & Film out of its Lego Media Intl. unit's TV and film division.

Vanessa Chapman, co-founder and global controller of programming and strategy with the Lego TV and film operation, will head the new company. Unit's former head, Mark Livingstone, will remain with Lego as a senior VP.

Spinoff will allow the new company to more aggressively pursue productions and projects that aren't tied explicitly to the toy lines developed by Lego, Chapman said.

Unit's first production, preschooler TV show "Little Robots," began broadcasting on the BBC this month and soon will hit Australia's ABC. Distribution is being handled by BBC Worldwide.