RelativityReal appoints COO

Beverly Hills movie studio Relativity Media has appointed a chief operating officer for its four-year-old television production arm RelativityReal.

Andrew Marcus, who is currently president of corporate development and strategy for Relativity Media, will focus on building the subsidiary’s international finance and programming distribution. He takes up his new role in January, reporting to CEO Tom Forman (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).

“Having helped structure Relativity Media’s network of co-finance and distribution partners, Andrew’s the right guy to help us forge new models in television. His relationships and experience will be invaluable as we craft new ways to produce bigger television series at lower prices and zero risk,” said Forman.

RelativityReal’s current programming includes Bravo’s LOLWork, Sundance’s The Mortified Sessions and GSN’s American Bible Challenge. It said it has a further 70 projects “in active production, including 17 original series airing on television or in the upcoming season.”

The division has deals in place with TV veterans Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh, Ashley Tisdale’s Blondie Girl Productions, Ellen Rakieten (The Oprah Winfrey Show), Ray Ricord, Bogner Entertainment and This is Just A Test Productions. It also has a YouTube channel launching next year.