STX Entertainment Launches Non-Scripted Television Business

LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- STX Entertainment ("STX" or "the Company"), a global media company, today announced it has launched a non-scripted Television business, as a part of STX's continued expansion of the Company's Television programming and building on its  established Scripted production capabilities. Jason Goldberg, creator and executive producer of hit shows Punk'd and Beauty and the Geek, has been appointed President of Non-Scripted and Alternative Programming. Inaugurating this new line of business under Mr. Goldberg's leadership advances STX's broader mission to create an integrated, diversified global entertainment company uniquely positioned to capture traditional and emerging opportunities across television, film and digital.

Mr. Goldberg and STX's non-scripted production team will execute on initiatives to create original programming in the U.S., China and India for distribution across linear and digital platforms. The non-scripted programming business will also focus on developing local language IP, both in the U.S. and internationally, that has the ability to engage audiences across screens, and has the potential to be successfully leveraged into additional forms of entertainment for global audiences. The Company will identify, develop and produce projects both internally and through strategic partnerships with leading, premier production companies. The Company will control the international and U.S. format rights for shows originating in China, and expects to make further announcements regarding additional markets in the near-term.

Under Mr. Goldberg's leadership, STX Non-Scripted has already sold and secured development deals for 12 shows to multiple networks in the U.S. and Asia, including NBC, CW, Food Network, Syfy, Oxygen, the History Channel and Freeform.  Executing on the growing opportunity in Asia, STX will become the first U.S.-based entertainment company involved in a broadcast television show airing in China. Presently titled, Thank You for Your Love, and developed in conjunction with XG Entertainment, the show is expected to premier to one billion viewers when it airs in 2016. 

"STX is the premier home for the world's best storytellers, and building non-scripted production capabilities opens up even more avenues to reach audiences across diverse creative outlets," said Sophie Watts, President of STX Entertainment. "We're thrilled to add Jason to the STX team as we continue to expand our global TV, film and digital capabilities. That STX Non-Scripted has already sold 12 shows, including projects in China, is an indicator of the global opportunity we see ahead of us."

"We strategically built STX to capitalize on today's evolved media landscape. Integrating our operations horizontally eliminates traditional creative barriers so that content ideation and development is centered on reaching and engaging audiences in the most compelling way," said Robert Simonds, Chairman and CEO of STX Entertainment.  "Our unique, flexible approach to development will drive creation of content that meets the needs of growing worldwide audiences across platforms."

"STX has built an innovative company that embraces both established and emerging global platforms with a fantastic opportunity for content development," said Mr. Goldberg.  "I look forward to finding additional and new ways for STX to partner with talent and brands to reach fans on a global scale."

Mr. Goldberg and STX started working together in 2015, to partner on an alternative, hybrid film similar to Mr. Goldberg's Punk'd, distributed by Warner Brothers.  Mr. Goldberg, named by Fast Company as one of the "Most Influential Programming Executives and Companies", co-founded and served as the CEO of Katalyst Media from 2000 to 2014, where he was the Creator, Executive Producer and Director of the hit show Punk'd (MTV) and produced over 30 television shows around the world, including Beauty and The Geek (WB/CW) and True Beauty (ABC).  In addition to TV properties, he's produced ten feature films, including The Butterfly Effect (Warner Bros) and Guess Who (Sony).  The digital division of Katalyst grew into a powerhouse creating ground breaking original programming through unrivaled distribution and technology platforms with some of the world's biggest brands, such as Pepsi, Intel, Levis, Kellogg, Google, Gatorade and General Electric, to name a few.  Katalyst was acquired in 2014 by Prime Capital Inc.  Mr. Goldberg received his B.A. in Business from Tulane University.

About STX Entertainment
STX Entertainment is a fully integrated, diversified, global media company designed from inception to unlock value from the 21st century's changed media landscape. STX specializes in the development, production, marketing and distribution of talent-driven films, television, and digital media content, with a unique ability to maximize the impact of content across worldwide, multiplatform distribution channels, including unparalleled global capabilities and direct passage into the China market.

STX Entertainment is led by accomplished businessman Robert Simonds and was co-founded by Bill McGlashan, managing partner of the growth division of leading global private investment firm TPG, which has $70 billion of capital under management.  The Company's Board of Directors includes prominent leaders in global finance and entertainment, including Frank Biondi, former President and CEO of Viacom, Inc. and former Chairman and CEO of Universal Studios; Tony Vinciquerra, former Chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group; Gigi Pritzker, CEO of Madison Wells Media; David Bonderman, founding partner of TPG; and John Zhao, CEO of Hony Capital, among others.

In addition to TPG Growth, other investors include financial partner Hony Capital, a leading private equity firm in China, DNS Capital (representing the business interests of Gigi Pritzker and her immediate family), and Beau Wrigley, former Chairman and CEO of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, among others.

For more information, please visit https://www.stxentertainment.com/.
Media Contact

STX Entertainment
Steve Elzer
213-392-4660
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Cassandra Bujarski/Dan Goldstein
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SOURCE STX Entertainment

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