EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate is reorganizing how it sells its TV shows in the U.S. and abroad.
Deadline understands that the company, which is behind series such as Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, USA Network’s The Rainmaker and ABC’s The Rookie, is restructuring its Worldwide Television Distribution Group.
It is bringing its transactional business in line with its global licensing group and creating a new unit focused on self-distribution that includes FAST Channels and platforms such as YouTube.
Jim Packer, President of Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group, said that the move was made to handle a distribution landscape that “continues to shift rapidly” and one that requires a team structure that “supports a truly global, content‑first strategy while maintaining… regional expertise”.
Deadline has seen an internal memo that went out to staff today where he lays out the changes.
These include the creation of new “verticals” and a number of new hires as well as some layoffs. We hear that less than ten employees are being let go in the U.S., Canada and UK, but the move is neutral to headcount given the hires.
The new self-distribution vertical will be led by Chase Brisbin, EVP, Lionsgate Global Channels, who is focused on leading its channels business, which also includes FAST channels, SVOD add-on channels and free-to-air; Adam Frank, EVP, Global Partner Management, Sales and Distribution, who will bring its transactional team into the distribution group; and Brad Haugen, EVP, Digital Strategy & Growth, who is leading its digital and YouTube plans, alongside 3 Arts.
There will also be a global content strategy and planning team led by EVP Jen Caprow.
Kate Nexon, President, Domestic Television and Digital Distribution, and Agapy Kapouranis, President, International Television and Digital Distribution, will continue to lead their respective sales organizations, with Kapouranis also overseeing acquisitions and co-productions; Justin Manfredi, EVP, Worldwide TV Marketing, will also now oversee the transactional marketing team handling catalog and Kate Hurl, EVP, Distribution Strategy and Operations, will continue to oversee library acquisitions and partnerships
“Our team’s senior leaders have spent the past few months reviewing our organizational structure, looking for opportunities to strengthen the capabilities that will drive our next stage of growth, streamline our team’s communication and clarify accountabilities. You have been outstanding in identifying and capturing opportunities in the marketplace—driving the strongest trailing 12‑month revenue our group has ever achieved—and now is the right moment to evolve our structure to support and sustain that growth,” Packer said in the internal note. “Together, these changes support a more agile, coordinated, and future‑ready distribution organization.”
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