Bunim/Murray signs celeb reality prodco pact

US reality producer Bunim/Murray Productions has signed an exclusive production deal with compatriot WikkedCat Entertainment.

The deal gives The Real World producer Bunim/Murray access to WikkedCat’s unscripted programming, with a focus on celeb-reality franchises.

Bunim/Murray is part of the Banijay Group, while WikkedCat is behind series including VH1’s I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle and is currently developing unscripted projects with singer Mariah Carey, rapper Lil Wayne and Spice Girl Mel B among others.

WikkedCat also has a separate scripted deal with Kelsey Grammer and Lionsgate Entertainment, and accordingly produced Frasier lead Grammer’s Starz series Boss.

“All it took was one meeting with Jon [Murray, Bunim/Murray co-founder] and Gil [Goldschein, Bunim/Murray chairman and CEO] to know that Bunim-Murray was the ideal home for us,” said Brian Sher, who created WikkedCat with Stella Bulochnikov (pictured), who is best known in entertainment circles as Mariah Carey’s manager.

“They are a world class organisation with an unmatched track record, so we see this as the perfect opportunity to marry our talent relationships with their production expertise.”

“Bunim/Murray has a long history of creating and producing some of the most enduring reality series and franchises, and we don’t plan on slowing down,” said Goldschein.

“Stella and Brian are masters of working with talent, and as we talked about the shows we all want to make, it became clear that there was a huge opportunity to partner, especially with their amazing access and our shared celeb-reality expertise.”