Strategic Realignment Will Bring Studio Under Centralized Leadership
NEW YORK, NY, August 14, 2019 – AMC Networks today announced that it is integrating its AMC Studios operation into its Entertainment Networks Group in a strategic realignment that will bring the studio under centralized leadership, closer to the networks for which it produces nearly a dozen current series. Simultaneous to the realignment, David Madden, president of programming for the Entertainment Networks Group and AMC Studios, has decided to step down from that role later this month.
The Entertainment Networks Group encompasses the company’s four scripted networks, AMC, BBC AMERICA, SundanceTV and IFC, and AMC Premiere, the premium, ad-free expression of AMC, and is run by Sarah Barnett, president of the Entertainment Networks Group for AMC Networks.
“We are already seeing the benefits of our entertainment networks working more closely together – the next logical strategic step is to integrate AMC Studios into this same group, so that the people making our celebrated series are more closely coordinated with the marketing, scheduling and publicity teams who connect our shows to passionate fans,” Barnett said. “We believe this new structure best positions our nimble organization for success in an increasingly competitive environment. I thank David for being a wonderful and consummate executive and for the creative leadership he brought to the team. He is enormously respected and admired both by his colleagues across the company and the talented people who make our shows. He will be missed.”
“I’m proud of the work the programming team and I have done growing and nurturing our existing shows like ‘The Walking Dead,’ ‘Better Call Saul,’ ‘Killing Eve’ ‘Lodge 49’ and others, while also finding fresh new voices and shows like ‘NOS4A2,’ a new season of ‘The Terror,’ the forthcoming ‘Dispatches From Elsewhere’ a third series in ‘The Walking Dead’ universe and a slate of strong new series in development,” Madden said. “I’m ready to move on and focus on new opportunities in the rapidly expanding content space, leaving the current programming and studio operations in good hands and positioned well for the future.”
AMC is home to three of the top six dramas in ad-supported cable, “The Walking Dead,” “Better Call Saul” and “Fear the Walking Dead.” The Entertainment Networks Group recently received 25 Emmy nominations, across all four networks: Nine for “Better Call Saul” on AMC, nine for “Killing Eve” on BBC AMERICA, four for “Documentary Now!” on IFC and three for its celebrated short-form series “State of the Union” on SundanceTV. This fall, The Walking Dead debuts its 10th season, as the universe around the show continues to expand with a third series premiering next year and a major motion picture in the works; BBC AMERICA will launch a dedicated micro-net called Wonderstruck that will devote every Saturday to natural history programming; and next year, AMC will premiere its newest original series, “Dispatches from Elsewhere,” from Jason Segel, and an episodic anthology series about the intersection of love and science from Will Bridges and Brett Goldstein.
About AMC Networks
Known for its groundbreaking and celebrated original content, AMC Networks is the company behind the award-winning brands AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films. Its diverse line-up of popular and critically-acclaimed series and independent films include Killing Eve, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, which has been the #1 show on cable television for nine consecutive years, as well as Portlandia, Brockmire, Love After Lockup, and the films Boyhood, Death of Stalin, and many more. Its original series Mad Men and Breaking Bad are widely recognized as being among the most influential and acclaimed shows in the history of TV. The Company also operates AMC Studios, its production business; AMC Networks International, its international programming business; the subscription streaming services Shudder and Sundance Now; RLJ Entertainment, a content distribution company that includes the subscription streaming services Acorn TV and UMC (Urban Movie Channel); and Levity Entertainment Group, the Company’s production services and comedy venues business. For more information, visit http://www.amcnetworks.com.