Lionsgate Partners With Jeff Apploff for Nonscripted Series, Formats

Company will have exclusive rights to television content produced by Apploff Entertainment

apploff lionsgate

Lionsgate Television has formed a new partnership with executive producer Jeff Apploff to develop new nonscripted series and formats, TheWrap has learned.

Under the agreement, Lionsgate will have exclusive rights to television content produced by Apploff’s Apploff Entertainment banner.

“Jeff is a world-class showrunner, a respected collaborator and a prolific creator of high-end unscripted content with global appeal,” said Lionsgate executive vice president of alternative programming Jennifer O’Connell. “As Lionsgate Television expands its alternative programming portfolio to include big formats that can travel around the world, we’re fortunate to add Jeff and his talented team at Apploff Entertainment, including Wes Kauble and Danielle Peress, as rich sources of incredible shows and formats.”

Most recently, Apploff created the primetime musical game show “Beat Shazam” for Fox, which will be produced in conjunction with Mark Burnett.

He also sold an original musical competition show and is preparing to shoot the broadcast pilot this year. Previously, Apploff executive produced the primetime network game show “BOOM!” for Fox, alongside Keshet and Dick Clark Productions. He also created and executive produced the series “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” and “Let’s Ask America.”

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by: Laura Kennedy, executive vice president of television operations and corporate development; Audrey Lee, executive vice president and deputy general counsel; Rahwa Ghebre-Ab, vice president of business and legal affairs; and Brian Tannenbaum, vice president of unscripted television.

Apploff is represented by WME and Abrams, Garfinkel, Margolis & Bergson LLP.

This is the latest in Lionsgate’s growing slate of unscripted programming. In addition to the Apploff deal, the company is readying “Kicking & Screaming” for Fox and “Candy Crush” in partnership with CBS and Activision’s King Digital Media.

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