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Amazon mulls offer for unscripted arm MGM Alternative in wake of MGM acquisition

Amazon MGM Studios makes shows including Survivor

Tech giant Amazon is reportedly exploring the sale of its unscripted division MGM Alternative.

MGM Alternative, which is part of Amazon MGM Studios, is the production arm behind shows such as Survivor, Shark Tank, The Voice, American Gladiators and the upcoming celebrity spin-off of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Deadline was the first to report the news.

Two production companies sit within MGM Alternative: Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment. Evolution produces series including Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Real Housewives of Orange County and Vanderpump Rules and E!’s Botched, while Big Fish makes On Patrol: Live for Reelz.

C21 understands that Amazon was not actively shopping the division but received an offer that it is considering. Several other approaches have been made over the past year, according to reports.

The sale talk comes following a period of rapid change in the wake of Amazon’s US$8.45bn acquisition of MGM.

Mark Burnett, who had led MGM’s unscripted efforts since 2014 when it acquired his companies One Three Media and LightWorkers Media, left Amazon in 2022.

Following Burnett’s departure, the MGM unscripted division was moved under Chris Brearton, who left earlier this year.

MGM Alternative is overseen by Amazon MGM Studios’ president of unscripted TV, Barry Poznick, who is also the managing director of MGM Alternative. Poznick reports to Amazon MGM Studios’ head of global content licensing and distribution, Brad Beale.

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