Kennedys Producers Team Up with ReelzChannel to Produce Original Programming
Posted 05.23.11 by reelz
ReelzChannel announced Monday it has entered in to a production deal with Asylum Entertainment to develop and produce original scripted series for the network. The channel became fast partners with Asylum’s Jonathan Koch, Steve Michaels, and Executive Producer Joel Surnow after picking up The Kennedys mini-series just seven weeks before its world premiere date.
With the TV movie event The Kennedys, ReelzChannel saw record viewership. The eight-part movie drew nearly two million viewers.
ReelzChannel CEO Stan E. Hubbard said the channel wants to continue the successful partnership with Asylum.
In acquiring The Kennedys one of our goals was to bring a quality of programming to our network of a kind that we have not been able to do before. In the few short weeks we had to market and promote the The Kennedys, it became clear that our interests, approach and vision are in close alignment with Asylum Entertainment and Joel Surnow. As the ReelzChannel brand evolves for the future, Asylum and Joel Surnow are the partners we want at our side.
Reelz and Asylum Entertainment expect to have a series ready to debut on the network in 2013 or as early as late next year. In addition to an initial series, the partnership will explore, develop and produce multiple scripted and unscripted projects together. Leading the effort will be Asylum Entertainment President and Chief Creative Officer Koch. Surnow will serve as a consulting executive. Surnow spoke about the partnership with Reelz:
In acquiring The Kennedys, ReelzChannel made a statement to the community that the network is a destination for superior programming. When Stan Hubbard approached Jonathan Koch and me with the idea of continuing to build on the foundation of the network with high quality programs, we couldn't sign up quickly enough. Being a part of this impressive team is an honor, a privilege and a pleasure.
Asylum is among the most respected production companies in unscripted reality television and is an emerging force in the world of scripted drama. Known for creative diversity, Asylum has produced multiple high profile projects ranging from The Kennedys mini-series to the long-running hit reality series The Locator to the award winning ’30 for 30’ ESPN documentary series. In addition to having produced hundreds of hours of television, Asylum has built multiple highly successful business units in support of the core production entity. Asylum Entertainment has won two Peabody Awards and has received twelve Emmy nominations.
In addition to his executive producer role on The Kennedys, Surnow is best known as the executive producer, show runner and co-creator of the Emmy-award winning 24, one of the most successful series in television history. Prior to that Surnow wrote and produced such landmark hour dramas as Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Wiseguy and La Femme Nikita.