AMC appoints for studio shake-up

AMC Networks has revamped its in-house production outfit, spinning off the unit to become a studio in its own right and appointing two of the company’s execs to run it.

Danish drama Bankerot

Rick Olshansky, AMC’s head of business affairs, and Stefan Reinhardt, AMC Networks’ senior VP of finance and studio operations, will report to Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios.

Reinhardt will also report to Mary Martin, AMC Networks’ senior VP of strategic planning and operations, for the finance aspects of his job, with the duo overseeing production and business affairs for AMC and SundanceTV.

LA-based Olshansky joined the company last year following spells at NBCUniversal, while New York-based Reinhardt helped launch the studio, which is behind shows including Halt & Catch Fire and The Walking Dead, in 2010

Joel Stillerman, who was recently promoted to oversee AMC’s original programming and development, had been overseeing the production division but will now be freed up to focus on creating new series.

AMC Networks has sought to expand its original programming recently for both its US networks and the recently launched AMC Global channel.

Ed Carroll, chief operating officer at AMC Networks, said: “Expanding the scope and solidifying the leadership of AMC Studios is an important step in the continued evolution of AMC Networks, as content ownership and global expansion have become significant drivers of our industry and meaningful contributors to the success and growth of our company.”

In related news, AMC has ordered drama series Broke, based on the Danish show Bankerot. The 10-part programme, which is being exec produced by Clyde Phillips (Nurse Jackie), is slated to air next year and follows two friends as they set up a restaurant.

The original was produced by DR Broadcasting and is being produced in the US by AMC Studios and Lionsgate.