Former Half Yard chief among five members of staff to depart
Naked And Afraid producer Lionsgate Alternative Television is trimming the unscripted division’s US team with the departure of execs including former Half Yard Productions boss, Dirk Hoogstra.
The move comes 11 months since Hoogstra was appointed to lead Lionsgate’s eOne label in the US, following his exit from The North Road-owned Half Yard in December.
Hoogstra, a former History Channel boss, is leaving eOne US alongside fellow former Half Yard execs Nicole Sorrenti and San Heng, who were executive vice-president of development and executive producer, respectively.
Five of Lionsgate’s 100-strong alternative unit are leaving from the eOne label in total, according to Deadline which broke the news.
Lionsgate Alternative Television was launched in January and is headed by Craig Piligian. It brought his Pilgrim Media Group together with Entertainment One’s unscripted outfits, including Blackfin, Renegade and Daisybeck Studios.
The US studio acquired the companies following its $375m (£296.9m) deal for eOne, with the latest job cuts coming amidst ongoing belt-tightening in the US with unscripted particularly affected.
Broadcast International has contacted Lionsgate for comment.
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