Amazon Merges MGM Alternative TV With Studios Division

EXCLUSIVE: MGM Alternative TV is joining the rest of Amazon’s studio business after the unscripted production arm behind series such as Survivor and The Voice was moved under the oversight of Vernon Sanders.

The unit, which also owns production companies including On Patrol: Live producer Big Fish Entertainment and Vanderpump Rules producer Evolution Media, will now sit under Amazon MGM Studios.

This brings it under the purview of Sanders, who is Head of Global Television, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios.

MGM Alternative TV has bounced around a bit since Amazon acquired MGM in 2022. The division, which is led by Barry Poznick, previously sat under Brad Beale, who is Head of Global Content Licensing and Distribution, following the departure of Chris Brearton, who was VP PVS Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television.

It makes sense to bring the division under the same fold as its other production entities, particularly given the increasing links between talent when it comes to scripted and unscripted, as well as the fact that numerous scripted series are now being turned into unscripted shows.

MGM Alternative TV is involved in key unscripted titles including Shark Tank, Survivor and The Voice as well as Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity, a spin-off of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? that was hosted by Travis Kelce, Fox’s Beat Shazam, which has been renewed for its eighth season, and American Gladiators, which has been rebooted for Prime Video.

Through Big Fish Entertainment and Evolution Media, which are both run by Lucilla D’Agostino, the company also produces HGTV’s Ugliest House In America, History’s Greatest Mysteries, E!’s Botched and Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Real Housewives of Orange County.

In a memo to staff, seen by Deadline, Sanders said, “Over the years, this team has built remarkable franchises and delivered compelling content that resonates with audiences worldwide. Their creative vision and execution have fueled enduring unscripted series like Shark Tank, Survivor, The Voice, On Patrol: Live, and The Real Housewives, to name a few.” 

“As we bring our teams together, I’m confident that combining our strengths will force multiply our ability to create groundbreaking content. This is an opportunity to leverage our collective expertise and resources in ways that will enhance our position as leaders in unscripted and reality programming,” he added.