Wolf Entertainment partners with Universal Studio Group for global distribution

Wolf Entertainment secured a partnership with Universal Studio Group to create a new sales boutique focusing on international format distribution of Wolf Entertainment titles. Leslie Jones, a veteran studio executive, will oversee the unit, designed to capitalize on the continued success and growth of NBCUniversal/Wolf Entertainment content. “We are getting back into the format business, and I am thrilled that Leslie is back doing what she does best…..selling international formats of our shows,“ CEO Dick Wolf and USG Chairman, Pearlena Igbokwe said. “As our company grows and our brands expand, Leslie is the ideal partner to reignite the business.While the majority of Universal Studio Group content will continue to be sold through the NBCUniversal Formats team, we believe this targeted approach to our Wolf product will yield significant results," Igbokwe added.

Jones has garnered most of her corporate experience from NBCUniversal, maintaining various executive positions including International Sales and Format Production for NBCUniversal TV Distribution. In that position, she leveraged her entrepreneurial skills with NBCUniversal’s existing library assets, launching NBCUniversal into the format business with successful titles such as "Law And Order." Before that she was Vice President of International Sales and Format Production for NBC Enterprises, overseeing worldwide program and format sales of NBC’s non-scripted programming including reality, NBC News, documentaries, game shows, NBC Sports, Olympics and late night.

She was most recently founder and principal of her eponymous consulting firm that provides management and strategic consulting for companies ranging from international distributors and foreign broadcasters to independent production companies and US broadcasters. “I am honored and energized to be entrusted with the best written formats in the world and I look forward to working with Universal Studio Group and Wolf Entertainment to maximize the potential of these iconic series,” Jones said. “It will be advantageous for clients to have direct contact with the Wolf team to produce these universally-appealing shows with world-class writing and production values and we look forward to working with our partners to culturally adapt these treasures. Scripted formats offer a shorter development process thus saving broadcasters time and money while preserving their localism.”

Wolf Entertainment, headed by multiple Emmy-winning television producer Dick Wolf, produces content for all platforms. The company, in conjunction with Universal Television, produces NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” which in its 23rd season is the longest-running primetime drama series in television history; season 2 of “Law & Order: Organized Crime,"  the original "Law & Order" returning for its 21st season in February 2022; season 10 of “Chicago Fire," season 9 of “Chicago PD," season 7 of“Chicago Med," season 4 of CBS’ “FBI," season 3 of “FBI Most Wanted,"and the new "FBI: International." Wolf’s first streaming series “On Call” for IMDb TV is slated for 2022. Wolf’s non-fiction series in addition to “Nightwatch” include “BTK,” “Murtaugh,” “Cold Justice,” “Criminal Confessions,” “Murder for Hire” and NBC’s “LA Fire and Rescue.” Wolf’s top-rated podcasts include “Hunted” starring Parker Posey and “Dark Woods."

The company also produced the Oscar-winning documentary “Twin Towers” and the Grammy-winning documentary about the Doors, “When You’re Strange,” as well as the Emmy-winning HBO film “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee.” Wolf is also creator and executive producer of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” which ran for 11 seasons on NBC and USA Network, among other network series.