Reality house Evolution Media has sold to MGM Television in one of the first big alternative shingle acquisitions in some time.
Evolution Media brings with it a substantial roster of unscripted fare, which includes The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules and Botched. The deal will have the shingle retaining its name, leadership and Burbank headquarters. In the move, founder and CEO Douglas Ross becomes president and development topper Alex Baskin becomes president of programming and development.
“Doug and Alex have been creating and producing hit series for decades,” said MGM TV Group president Mark Burnett. “These guys have talent and drive and will help our MGM Television ‘hit machine’ to continue to grow and grow.”
Adding the Evolution roster further boosts MGM TV’s reality holdings, much of them brought over by Burnett when he joined the company in 2015, that now includes CBS’ Survivor, NBC’s The Voice, ABC’s Shark Tank and Fox’s recently renewed Beat Shazam. Ross and Baskin will report to MGM unscripted president Barry Poznick.
“After 30 years of being fiercely independent, we couldn’t be more proud and excited to join forces with the dynamic, creative and supportive leadership team at MGM,” said Ross. “We look forward to working with Gary, Mark and Barry to supercharge Evolution and to write the next chapters in the company’s history with them.”
Evolution Media is repped by CAA.
