Lionsgate Alternative Television has signed with UTA as the major studio gets deeper into unscripted TV.
The talent, entertainment and sports agency will represent the Lionsgate TV division as it looks to get more of its unscripted content into the global marketplace. The move also follows Lionsgate tapping Craig Piligian as managing director of the newly restructured unit after Lionsgate acquired certain film and TV assets of Entertainment One from Hasbro.
Piligian in a statement said the Hollywood studio would look to leverage UTA’s buyer relationships and industry expertise as Lionsgate Alternative Television ramps up in unscripted TV. “I am especially pleased to expand my relationship with David and Geoff and their team, as they help spearhead the future of this division,” he added of his coming partnership with David Kirsch and Geoff Suddleson, UTA partners and co-heads of unscripted television.
The Lionsgate unscripted TV unit spans Pilgrim Media Group, Renegade 83, Blackfin, Daisybeck Studios and eOne’s U.S. and U.K. non-fiction groups. That includes labels behind popular series like Naked and Afraid, Street Outlaws, Wicked Tuna, The Yorkshire Vet, and Ex on the Beach.
Lionsgate’s unscripted TV campaign also produced limited series like Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez and Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre. UTA’s Kirsch and Suddleson for their part underlined the impressive track record for Lionsgate’s unscripted content as they get set to work with the Lionsgate Alternative Television division across a range of labels and genres.
“We are thrilled to partner with each of the teams and look forward to working with Lionsgate as it continues to build upon its portfolio of unscripted content in the global marketplace,” the duo said in a statement.
Alongside Piligian, the management team at Lionsgate Alternative Television includes Gretchen Stockdale serving as president and Nicholas Caprio as executive vp.