GammaTime to mine National Enquirer library to create slate of true-crime microseries 

Left, to right: Alex Montalvo, Bill Block and Slava Mudrykh

LA-based microdrama platform and studio GammaTime will mine the National Enquirer’s story archives to adapt as vertical video series.

The partnership came together after GammaTime, which is led by former Miramax CEO Bill Block, inked a deal with the American tabloid newspaper’s owner MediaCo.

The first project to emerge from the partnership is a microseries inspired by the true story of Drew Peterson, a former police officer who was found guilty of murdering his third wife, while his fourth wife disappeared and was never found. The project, titled National Enquirer Presents: The Drew Peterson Story, launched on Wednesday on the GammaTime app.

Other true-crime-focused series will also be released examining the stories of Richard Ramirez, Karen Read and Wanda Holloway among others.

The companies said the pact “marks a pivotal shift in how legacy media assets are reimagined for the modern content era,” with the National Enquirer also using its social media accounts and print publication to promote the series.

GammaTime, which launched last year after raising US$14m in seed funding, has made true crime one of its main focuses. Last week, the company announced a deal to reformat episodes of Forensic Files as microseries.

Block co-founded GammaTime alongside ex-Google exec Slava Mudrykh, who serves as chief revenue officer, and former Quibi exec Alex Montalvo, who is chief content officer.

“The National Enquirer library is a goldmine of American culture and intrigue,” said Block.

“By pairing MediaCo’s unparalleled IP with our expertise in short-form vertical drama, we are creating a new genre of entertainment that is as compelling as it is premium.”

MediaCo president James Robertson added: “The National Enquirer has spent 100 years uncovering the stories that captivate America, and this partnership with GammaTime is the natural next step in bringing that legacy to life. Mobile-first audiences deserve premium storytelling and together we’re proving that the most iconic stories in tabloid history were always meant for the screen.”