EXCLUSIVE : Lionsgate Alternative Television is the latest business to be hit with layoffs. The unscripted TV arm of the studio, which is behind series such as Discovery’s Naked and Afraid and Dirty Jobs, has begun a round of redundancies today. Deadline understands that it’s hitting eOne’s U.
S. label with Dirk Hoogstra , Nicole Sorrenti and San Heng departing. Former History Channel boss Hoogstra joined the company in January as it launched Lionsgate Alternative Television .
Before joining, he was CEO of Say Yes To The Dress producer Half Yard Productions , which is owned by Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company. Sorrenti, who was Chief Creative Officer at Half Yard, also left at the same time and joined Lionsgate in April as EVP, Development, eOne U.S.
Heng, who was previously a showrunner who worked on shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and Chrissy & Dave Dine Out , was SVP, Development. We hear that around 5% of the division’s employees were impacted. The unit employs around 100 people.
It is believed to be the result of the continued integration of eOne and Lionsgate, following the $375M deal closed twelve months ago , as well as the general belt-tightening that is happening around the industry. It comes two weeks after Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer admitted that its unscripted business was “feeling the effects of a continuing market correction.” Speaking to analysts after its financial quarter, Feltheimer said that its television business was “doing ever.