EXCLUSIVE: Sony is undergoing some major changes to its unscripted business.
Eli Holzman, President of Sony Pictures Television, Nonfiction, and Co-President Aaron Saidman, who founded the Intellectual Property Corporation and ran Industrial Media before it was acquired by the studio for more than $300 million in 2022, are exiting the business.
Deadline understands that the pair are leaving the group with IPC, which has produced series including A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath, Netflix’s With Love, Meghan and Bravo’s Surviving Mormonism. The exit has been in the works since toward the start of the year as Holzman and Saidman weighed their future and negotiated their departure.
In an internal note obtained by Deadline, Keith LeGoy, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television, said that the pair, who have also executive produced series including American Idol and The Fall of Diddy, played a “critical role in shaping and expanding our nonfiction portfolio” over the last four years.
See the full note below.
Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction will now undergo a change in its reporting structure. The division previously reported directly to LeGoy but will now be folded within Sony Pictures Television Studios, which is run by President Katherine Pope.
The company’s game shows division, which is led by President Suzanne Prete and produces long-running series such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, will continue to report to LeGoy.
In 2018, Holzman and Saidman sold IPC to Core Media, the company behind Idol, with Holzman becoming CEO and Saidman becoming President of the company, which was rebranded as Industrial Media.
Then, in 2022, Sony Pictures Television acquired a major controlling stake in Industrial Media with Holzman becoming President of Nonfiction Entertainment at Sony and Saidman being named Co-President.
That business comprised of a number of production companies and labels including 19 Entertainment, which is involved in Idol and So You Think You Can Dance; 90 Day Fiancé producer Sharp Entertainment; Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher’s B17, which produced series such as The Final Straw for ABC; This Machine, which was founded by The War Room producer R.J Cutler; Who Wants To Be A Millionaire producer Michael Davies’ Embassy Row; and Maxine Productions, the company behind true-crime hits such as ID’s Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and The Fall of Diddy.
Holzman and Saidman’s own IPC is also behind Netflix’s Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal and HBO Max’s Selena + Chef.
Prior to Industrial, IPC and Sony, Holzman ran Studio Lambert’s U.S division, where he launched CBS’ Undercover Boss, and All3Media America. He began his career at Miramax Films, where he co-founded the company’s television department and created Bravo’s Project Runway before running Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Films.
Saidman was previously EVP, Development & Current Programming at All3Media America, where he worked on shows including NBC’s Million Second Quiz and created CNN’s Declassified: The Untold Stories of American Spies. Before that, he worked with Holzman at Studio Lambert, having got his start in television with Mark Burnett Productions.
KEITH LEGOY, CHAIRMAN, SONY PICTURES TELEVISION:
Dear All,
I’m writing to share an important update regarding our Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction business.
Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman will be transitioning from their roles at SPT to pursue their next entrepreneurial venture. Over the past four years, Eli and Aaron have played a critical role in shaping and expanding our nonfiction portfolio. Their leadership elevated the division and enhanced our slate during a period of significant industry change. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together in the future.
Looking ahead, Katherine Pope will expand her role as President of Sony Pictures Television Studios to include oversight of the SPT Nonfiction division, alongside her leadership of our scripted and kids businesses. Katherine has built an incredible track record of bringing premium content to market and building enduring partnerships with top-tier talent that has consistently positioned the studio at the forefront of the industry. Integrating nonfiction under her leadership will further align our creative operations, accelerate collaboration across teams, and enable us to unlock greater long-term value across the portfolio.
SPT Nonfiction continues to be a dynamic and growing part of our business, with a robust portfolio that includes companies such as Sharp Entertainment, Embassy Row, B17 Entertainment, 19 Entertainment, This Machine, Maxine Productions, Brass Monkeys Media, and Rebel Minds Media that are behind incredible series such as American Idol, Shark Tank, the 90 Day Fiancé franchise, Watch What Happens Live, Extracted, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, Quiet on Set, Martha, and the upcoming unscripted adaptation of Clue. With Katherine’s leadership and the strength of our creative teams, we are well positioned to build on this momentum and continue growing the Nonfiction business.
Thank you for your continued dedication as we move into this next chapter together.
Keith