Gurin seeks global reach

NATPE: US producer and distributor IM Global Television’s fledgling unscripted division is set to open offices in Latin America, Asia and Europe by the end of 2017.

Phil Gurin at Natpe

Phil Gurin, founder of The Gurin Company and producer of hits including Shark Tank, The Weakest Link and Singing Bee, is leading the new venture as president of unscripted and alternative content.

Speaking at Natpe in Miami, he said that as well as setting up a US team that will create, acquire and co-develop ideas in all unscripted and alternative genres, he wants to open offices in Beijing and London and either Miami or Mexico to source and produce new shows.

“The whole reason for me to join with IM Global Television is to have the tools to build something bigger,” said the veteran producer. “My mission, in addition to building the staff in the US, is to find an MD for London and Beijing first and to add Latin America after that.”

Gurin said he hoped the unscripted division of IM, which sold a majority stake to a US and Chinese finance firm and partnered with Chinese tech giant Tencent last year, would operate in the same way UK firm Shine did when it first began.

“The idea is to create companies that will work as one,” he said. “We’re creating, selling and distributing within each market and then sharing. I hope it will be like when Shine first began. It was one label and there was no confusion in the marketplace.”