MGM TELEVISION BOLSTERS UK-BASED UNSCRIPTED DIVISION

MGM Television has further expanded its unscripted interests by appointing Richard Bedser, the co-founder of All3Media-backed Two Halves Pictures, into a new London-based role. The executive was named EVP of Factual Series, Documentaries and Specials at MGM, reporting to Barry Poznick, President of Unscripted & Alternative.

Bedser launched Two Halves with Gina Cronk in 2016, with All3Media backing the company the following year. It is understood the company has now been closed. Prior to that, he worked with Mark Burnett, MGM’s Worldwide Television Chairman, on shows such as “The Bible” for History, and has also had stints at LightWorkers Media, the prodco owned by Burnett and Roma Downey.

This new hire comes three months after MGM set up an unscripted arm in the United Kingdom and appointed former Channel 4 and BBC executive Dom Bird to run it. MGM International Unscripted Content is based out of London and will develop existing formats locally, as well as creating original UK-based ideas.

“Richard is a prolific producer whose knowledge and experience working in both the United States and the United Kingdom markets will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand MGM TV’s unscripted footprint internationally,”  Poznick commented. “He has a proven track record in creating powerful and commercially successful documentary series and specials across multiple networks, and we’re excited to launch our new international docs division under his stewardship,”  he added.

Meanwhile, Burnett said: “Roma and I are delighted that Richard has re-joined us. Every time we’ve worked together it’s resulted in critical and commercial successes and we know that’s about to happen again in an even bigger way”.