Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) restructures its Worldwide Television Distribution team, announced Chris Ottinger, President, Worldwide Television Distribution & Acquisitions, MGM.
As part of the reorganisation, Paul Bischoff has been promoted to EVP, International Television Distribution-EMEA, where he will be responsible for all television and digital distribution in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Bischoff formerly served as SVP, Subscription Television & Sales Strategy and led MGM’s SVOD and pay television deals in all international markets while managing relationships with key clients including: Netflix, Amazon, Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland, BskyB, Canal+, Foxtel, LAPTV and Telecine. Bischoff will continue to be based out of Los Angeles and report directly to Ottinger.
In this new structure, Charlie Farmer and Alex Peschak, both based in MGM’s London office, will take on new roles. Farmer has been elevated to Senior Vice President and Managing Director, UK, China and European Co-Productions, where he will be responsible for television and digital distribution in the UK and China while also being charged with seeking new scripted dramas and production partnerships reporting to Steve Stark, MGM’s President, Television Production & Development. He will also continue to be involved in business development across Europe.
Alex Peschak has been upped to manage the London sales team as well as oversee all television and digital distribution across EMEA excluding the UK. Peschak will serve as Senior Vice President, International Television Distribution, EMEA, and report to Bischoff.
“This is an exciting time for MGM. Paul has been an integral member of the team responsible for building and implementing MGM’s international strategy and is the right person to lead our EMEA business,” said Ottinger. He added, “Charlie and Alex have unparalleled relationships and I am excited to see each of them in enhanced roles within our organization.”
“Charlie Farmer offers a wealth of knowledge about the European media community and will be invaluable in helping us expand our television production business into the European marketplace,” said Stark.
The restructure comes at a time when MGM Television is thriving and MGM, overall, is experiencing growth with the recent acquisition of EPIX and Evolution Media. Additionally, MGM has re-entered theatrical distribution and will be self-distributing a full slate of films in 2018 including Death Wish, Fighting with my Family, Valley Girl, Operation Finale and Creed 2. The studio has also re-launched Orion Pictures as a stand-alone marketing and theatrical distribution company, with its first release, Every Day, in theaters early next year.
