Burnett hires reality TV chief for MGM

MGM has recruited Barry Poznick as president of its unscripted division as, with Mark Burnett at the helm, it seeks to become a powerhouse in reality TV.

Poznick will report to Burnett and the MGM move sees the pair reunited. They worked together on shows including Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? for Fox, How’d You Get So Rich? for TV Land and Trust Me, I’m a Game Show Host for TBS.

The new recruit launched the US indie prodco Zoo in the mid 1990s, before selling it to All3Media. He then launched Barracuda Television in 2013 and inked a multi-year deal with Electus.

“I took my time in finding the absolute best president for MGM’s unscripted television group. Barry Poznick is it,” Burnett (left) said.

He added, “In order to produce hit television shows you need to be able to create, to produce and to market, Barry Poznick can do it all. He has been successful in primetime network, primetime cable and daytime syndication.”

Poznick said: “The opportunity to reunite with Mark, the master of innovative reality TV, and to work with the MGM unscripted team was a no-brainer.”

MGM is primarily known as a movie studio but also has a roster of scripted series including Vikings, Fargo and Teen Wolf. Mark Burnett took control of the TV business last year, and is now moving it into unscripted.

Internationally, the independent studio has set its sights on rivalling the biggest players in unscripted.