MGM TV hires to boost unscripted efforts

MGM Television has bolstered the ranks of its newly launched international unscripted division by hiring Richard Bedser from All3Media-backed Two Halves Pictures.

Richard Bedser

Bedser, a frequent former collaborator with MGM Worldwide Television chairman Mark Burnett, joins the business as exec VP of factual series, documentaries and specials, based out of MGM’s UK headquarters.

The US studio launched a London-based unscripted division in November, headed by former Channel 4 formats chief Dom Bird. Bedser joins the team from US prodco Two Halves Pictures, which he co-founded three years ago with investment from All3Media.

The exec was previously MD and creative director of LightWorkers Media, the faith-focused prodco established by Burnett and his wife Roma Downey and was the Emmy-nominated showrunner on History’s The Bible, plus follow-up A.D. for NBC.

Bedser will now report to Barry Poznick, MGM president of unscripted and alternative television and Orion Television, who said: “Richard is a prolific producer whose knowledge and experience working in both the US and UK markets will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand MGM TV’s unscripted footprint internationally.

“He has a proven track record in creating powerful and commercially successful documentary series and specials across multiple networks, and we’re excited to launch our new international docs division under his stewardship.”

Burnett added: “Roma and I are delighted that Richard has rejoined us. Every time we’ve worked together it’s resulted in critical and commercial successes and we know that’s about to happen again in an even bigger way.”

The Survivor and Apprentice creator was promoted to chairman of MGM’s global TV business in the summer of 2018 and last year launched a formats and unscripted unit in the US, hiring two former Mark Burnett Productions execs.