Sonar Entertainment


Sonar makes interim chief’s role permanent

US producer Sonar Entertainment has appointed interim CEO Thomas Lesinski to the chief executive role on a permanent basis. In September 2015, Lesinski (pictured) was placed in the CEO role after the exit of Gene Stein, who went on to join rival LA producer Gaumont Television. It is the latest CEO change for Sonar under […]

Sonar explores Full House with telemovie slate

Sonar Entertainment has acquired nine two-hour telemovies from US cable channels for international distribution, including looking into the story behind classic US sitcom Full House. The Unauthorized Full House Story stars Garrtt Brawith (Diary of a Serial Killer) and Justin Mader (Death Race) and is executive produced by Stephen Bulka and Juliet Smith. Interest in […]

Sonar’s Stein joins Gaumont as CEO exits

It has emerged Gene Stein exited Sonar Entertainment last week to join rival LA studio Gaumont, which is consolidating its television assets under one brand. Stein (left) has been named president of the new unit, Gaumont Television US, with current Gaumont International Television CEO Katie O’Connell (below right) leaving the restructuring business. Gaumon Television US […]

Gene Stein exits Sonar Entertainment

Gene Stein has left Sonar Entertainment. The US-based producer and distributor said that board member Thomas Lesinski will fill the CEO role on an interim basis while it looks for a permanent successor to Stein. Sonar said that Stein is leaving “to pursue other opportunities”. He joined the company last year, replacing Stewart Till as […]

Fox UK, TF1, Atresmedia buy The Fixer

Producer and distributor Sonar Entertainment has shopped its conspiracy thriller The Fixer to a raft of international broadcasters. The show, which stars Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) and Kathleen Robertson (Boss), has been picked up by Fox International Channels UK, as well as Spanish free-to-air broadcaster Atresmedia and its French counterpart TF1. Elsewhere in Europe, MTG has […]

Sonar hires Red Arrow, StudioCanal sales execs

Producer and distributor Sonar Entertainment has beefed up its sales team with two new execs joining from Red Arrow International and Studiocanal TV. Axel Boehm joins from Red Arrow International and becomes senior VP, sales, overseeing the EMEA sales team at Sonar. At Red Arrow he was VP, sales, Europe. Boehm will report to Marielle […]

SBS, Stan partner for Tim Kring’s Dig

SBS and Stan have joined forces to acquire broadcast and subscription on-demand rights to Tim Kring’s latest US drama, Dig. SVOD platform Stan takes first window rights soon after episodes go out on USA Network in the US following a deal with distributor Keshet International. The 10-part show – from Keshet Broadcasting, Universal Cable Productions, […]

Sonar hires programming SVP

Sonar Entertainment has recruited Tom Patricia as senior VP, limited series, miniseries and movies. Patricia has been consulting for Lionsgate, overseeing the indie studio’s long-form TV development. He was a producer on Lionsgate’s miniseries adaptation of Rosemary’s Baby In the newly-created role at Sonar, he will work across Sonar’s development and production slate. Before Lionsgate, […]

MTV greenlights fantasy drama

Viacom-owned MTV is putting fantasy drama Shannara into production. MTV will coproduce the 10-part series, which is based on the best-selling fantasy novels from Terry Brooks, with Sonar Entertainment. Shannara went into development in December, with Brooks, actor and director Jon Favreau and Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar attached. Gough and Miller will […]

Sonar hires Gene Stein to replace Stewart Till

Producer and distributor Sonar Entertainment has recruited former BermanBraun president Gene Stein as its new CEO, replacing Stewart Till who has been in the role since 2012. Before joining BermanBraun in 2008, Stein worked with producer Nina Wass and based at Touchstone Television/ABC Studios for eight years. He has also written episodes of series including […]