Sky Studios expands unscripted by backing Jeff Collins’ prodco Catalina Content

Bridezillas

UK-based Sky Studios has further expanded its production interests by backing an LA-based outfit fronted by Jeff Collins, whose former company Collins Avenue Entertainment was recently sold by the troubled Kew Media Group.

Collins becomes president of Catalina Content and will oversee all creative – from development to current – and be tasked with creating character-driven and female-skewing programming, as well as entertainment formats for broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.

He most recently headed up Collins Avenue but departed the company earlier this year after the Dance Moms producer was sold by Kew Media to The Content Group, part of Steve Michael’s Asylum Entertainment Group.

Jeff Collins

Collins Avenue is the second company to break away from trouble-hit Kew Media this month, following in the footsteps of Glasgow based producer Two Rivers Media. TCG will retain all of Collins Avenue’s physical assets, intellectual properties, contracts as well as key staff, with president Jodi Flynn now overseeing the company.

Catalina Content, meanwhile, marks the latest addition to Sky Studios’ non-scripted portfolio, joining companies including Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running reality crime hits such as Snapped, ID Murder Mystery and Homicide Hunter.

Sky also houses Bake Off outfit Love Productions, Ultimate Tag creator Znak & Co and Talos Films, creator and producers of documentary, factual and scripted projects.

“We have landed a prime asset in Jeff. His proven success in creating and developing character-led programming is an ideal complement to our factual businesses,” said Jane Millichip, chief commercial officer of Sky Studios.

Collins added: “I’ve launched a company from the ground up, so I know what an exciting adventure it is. With the backing and support of a global, creative giant like Sky Studios, this new chapter will be exponentially more spectacular across the board. I am humbled by the opportunity and can’t wait to join such a great stable of producers.”

Collins has been behind shows including Bridezillas (WeTV), Billy The Exterminator (A&E) and eight seasons of Dance Moms (Lifetime), having launched Collins Avenue in 2009 in a joint venture with Content Media, which later became Kew Media.

Prior to Collins Avenue, Collins was VP of Leeza Gibbons Enterprises at Paramount Studios where he was responsible for documentary and specials programming.