ITV America sets overall deal with Strahan

ITV’s US arm has scored an overall deal with former American football player and TV personality Michael Strahan.

The deal will see ITV America and Strahan’s SMAC Entertainment co-creating unscripted shows for TV, OTT and other digital platforms.

The shows will go out through the ITV America banner.

Leftfield and SMAC already coproduce NFL Network series Tackle My Ride.

SMAC has two other series in development with Leftfield (Pros vs Kids and Not For Primetime), and further projects Spark the Future with Wiz Khalifa with ITV Entertainment, and Guiness World Records, with ITV Entertainment and High Noon Entertainment.

Strahan, co-host of Good Morning America and ABC series The $100,000 Pyramid, runs SMAC with business and producing partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.

ITV America chief creative officer Adam Sher and executive VP of business development and international Ed Simpson helped broker the deal.

“In addition to his incredible talent, Michael is a total class act: kind, engaged and authentic, whether he’s speaking to an assistant or to a network president,” said ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery.

“His expertise and ability to navigate everything from sports and game shows to docs and competition, along with his and Constance’s keen instincts for what resonates with audiences, make SMAC an amazing partner for ITV America.”

ITV America recently entered into a similar deal with another former US sports star and TV broadcaster, Kenny Smith, who owns Smith Entertainment.