Sony Pictures Television’s unscripted division is undergoing a big shakeup.
Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman, who have lead Sony Pictures TV Nonfiction for the past four years, are departing the studio. The nonfiction unit will be folded into Sony Pictures TV Studios president Katherine Pope’s portfolio, SPT chairman Keith Le Goy wrote in a memo to staff Wednesday.
“Over the past four years, Eli and Aaron have played a critical role in shaping and expanding our nonfiction portfolio,” Le Goy wrote. “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.” (Read the memo in full below.)
Holzman and Saidman, who were prolific producers prior to joining Sony, are set to return to that side of the business.
Holzman and Saidman were named president and co-president of SPT Nonfiction in 2022, after Sony acquired their Industrial Media in a deal valued at $350 million. Prior to that, Holzman and Saidman led unscripted production company The Intellectual Property Corp., which merged with Core Media in 2018 to form Industrial Media.
Sony’s unscripted portfolio, which will now fall under Pope’s direction, include American Idol (which it co-produces with Fremantle), the 90 Day Fiancé franchise, Shark Tank and Fox’s Extracted, among many others. Among the production outfits under SPT Nonfiction are Sharp Entertainment, Embassy Row, B17 Entertainment, 19 Entertainment, This Machine, Maxine Productions, Brass Monkeys Media, and Rebel Minds Media.
Sony’s game show division, which includes Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, will remain under Suzanne Prete.
Le Goy’s memo is below.