Wikipedia

Brent Montgomery

Brent Montgomeryis an American businessman who is CEO of Wheelhouse Entertainment, a media group he launched in 2018.[1][2]Under the Wheelhouse banner also is Spoke Studios,[3]the content arm of Wheelhouse Entertainment, which creates programming across a variety of platforms and genres.[4]

Montgomery also serves as strategic advisor to ITV America.[5]Montgomery was named CEO of ITV America in 2015 following the 2014 acquisition of his company, Leftfield Entertainment, for $360 million by UK-based, multi-national media company ITV.[6]Under Montgomery's leadership, in 2017 ITV America's revenue[7]increased by 33%.[8]

Career

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Montgomery began his television career working for TexasCBSaffiliateKBTX,which subsequently paid for the majority of his tuition atTexas A&M.[9]He later moved to New York and worked onThe Bachelor,Wife SwapandBlind Date.[10]

Montgomery started his first production company, Leftfield Pictures, in 2002 with $10,000.[11]Leftfield Pictures initially shot wedding videos while developing its entertainment content and clientele, and eventually sold its first series,The Principal’s Office,in 2008.[10]Montgomery developed the concept for Leftfield Pictures’ flagship seriesPawn Starswhile inLas Vegasfor a bachelor party.[12]Struck by the number of pawn shops in the city, Montgomery set out to locate a shop with the right setting and staff around which to build a television series.[13][11]Ultimately, Montgomery negotiated a deal withGold & Silver Pawn Shopco-owner Rick Harrison, and pitched the show to theHistory Channel.[14]In 2009,Pawn Starspremiered on History as a top rated series for the network, highlighting the “hidden treasures” genre of programming.[15]

Montgomery grew Leftfield Pictures rapidly[16]with other series soon added to Leftfield's roster.[17]In addition toPawn Stars,other Leftfield Pictures series and Montgomery credits includeAlone,[18]American RestorationandCounting Carsfor History;[10]American GritforFox;[19]Bethenny & Fredrikfor Bravo,[20]andNational Geographic Channel’s specialsBilly the Kid: The New Evidence(executive produced by Kevin Costner)[21]andBrain Surgery Live.[22]

In 2013, Montgomery established parent company Leftfield Entertainment (LFE), and assumed the role of CEO, in conjunction with acquiring production company Sirens Media.[23]He then launched additional production companies under the LFE umbrella – Loud TV[24]and Outpost Entertainment[25]– before selling 80% of the company for $360 million to ITV in 2014.[26]At the end of 2015, Montgomery completed a deal through which ITV acquired all of the Leftfield Entertainment group. As part of that process, he became CEO of newly formed production group ITV America,[17]encompassing original Leftfield Entertainment companies Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Outpost Entertainment, Loud TV; plus ITV Entertainment, Gurney Productions, High Noon Entertainment and Thinkfactory Media.[10]Collectively, they produce series including FOX'sThe Four: Battle for Stardom[27]andHell’s Kitchen;HGTV'sFixer Upper,Netflix'sQueer Eye[28]andGirls Incarcerated,[29]A&E'sDuck DynastyandThe First 48,[30]History'sPawn Stars,AloneandForged in Fire.[31]Bravo'sThe Real Housewives of New Jersey,[32][33]

During Montgomery's tenure as CEO of ITV America, the company made production and talent deals with TV personalities and celebritiesMichael Strahan,[34]WWEstar John Cena,[35]Bethenny Frankel,[36]Good Morning Americaco-hostLara Spencer,[37]Grammy award-winnerTimbalandand author/actressLa La Anthony.[38]

In January 2018, Montgomery founded Wheelhouse Entertainment and its production company Spoke Studios.[39]He currently serves as CEO of Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Honors and affiliations

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Montgomery was featured on the cover ofThe Hollywood Reporteron January 30, 2019, focusing on his new business, the Wheelhouse Group, and highlighting his contributions to reality TV.[40]

In June 2016, Montgomery was inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame as Producer Extraordinaire.[41]

In 2014 Montgomery became a founding member of the Non-Fiction Producers Association (NPA), the first professional body created to service the non-fiction TV business in the United States, and serves on its executive committee.[42]In 2017 the NPA merged with PactUS to create NPACT, on whose board and executive committee Montgomery also sits.[43]In 2018, he received NPACT's “Inspiration Award for Outstanding Achievement In Nonfiction[44]”as part of the organization's inaugural NPACT Impact Awards.

Montgomery is a member of Lincoln Center Corporate Fund's newly launched Media and Entertainment Council,[45]and a member of the Paley Media Council.[46]

References

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  1. ^White, Peter (2018-01-29)."Former ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery Launches Wheelhouse Entertainment".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  2. ^Littleton, Cynthia (2018-01-29)."Producer Brent Montgomery Unveils Wheelhouse Entertainment, Spoke Studios Ventures".Variety.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  3. ^"Leadership in Place for Brent Montgomery's Spoke Studios - TVUSA".TVUSA.2018-03-28.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  4. ^"Montgomery names Spoke's leadership team – TBI Vision".tbivision.com.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  5. ^"Brent Montgomery sets Spoke Studios executive team".Retrieved2018-05-15.
  6. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2015-12-03)."Brent Montgomery Named CEO of ITV America".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  7. ^"ITV 2017 Profit Drops, New CEO Carolyn McCall Focuses on" Strategic Refresh "".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  8. ^White, Peter (2018-02-28)."ITV America Doubles Down On Digital Focus After Scoring 'Dark Web' Order For Netflix".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  9. ^"Broadcasting & Cable".www.broadcastingcable.com.16 July 2012.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  10. ^abcdBarraclough, Leo (2015-10-28)."'Pawn Stars' Creator Brent Montgomery To Lead ITV Studios U.S. Group ".Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  11. ^ab"RSL '14: Leftfield's Montgomery recounts route to the top".Retrieved2016-10-08.
  12. ^"Brent Montgomery - San Antonio Magazine - January 2013 - San Antonio, TX".www.sanantoniomag.com.31 December 2012.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  13. ^"'Pawn Stars' creator eyeing S.A. "San Antonio Express-News.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  14. ^"Banff World Media Festival: Pawn Stars creator Brent Montgomery says the key to great reality TV is the 'cast'".Calgary Herald.2013-06-10.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  15. ^Marechal, AJ (2012-10-17)."Leftfield Pictures expands to L.A."Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  16. ^"Brent Montgomery - Reality TV: THR's 50 Most Powerful List".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  17. ^abAndreeva, Nellie (2015-12-03)."Brent Montgomery Named CEO of ITV America".Deadline.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  18. ^Petski, Denise (2016-04-20)."'Alone' Survival Series Renewed For Season 3 By History ".Deadline.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  19. ^Holloway, Daniel (2016-07-29)."John Cena's 'American Grit' Renewed for Season 2 by Fox".Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  20. ^"Bravo Media tackles home renos in" Bethenny & Fredrik "".Retrieved2018-05-15.
  21. ^"Kevin Costner to Take On Billy the Kid Mystery for National Geographic (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  22. ^"National Geographic to Air First Live Brain Surgery on TV (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  23. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2013-03-20)."Leftfield Pictures Acquires 'Real Housewives Of NJ' Producer Sirens Media".Deadline.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  24. ^"Nick Rigg Partners With Brent Montgomery for Loud TV | Broadcasting & Cable".www.broadcastingcable.com.May 2013.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  25. ^"Leftfield, Jodi Flynn partner for Outpost Entertainment".Retrieved2016-10-08.
  26. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2014-05-07)."ITV Studios Acquires 80% Of 'Pawn Stars' Producer Leftfield Entertainment For $360M".Deadline.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  27. ^Pedersen, Erik (2018-04-16)."'The Four': Fox Brings Back Original Host & Judges For Season 2, Sans Charlie Walk; June Premiere Set ".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  28. ^"'Queer Eye' Producers on How the Netflix Update Shifts Its Focus to Red State America ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  29. ^"Loud TV, Plum Pictures tackle teen incarceration for Netflix".Retrieved2018-05-15.
  30. ^"Exclusive: ITV Entertainment options Armoza's" The Bubble "".Retrieved2018-05-15.
  31. ^Petski, Denise (2015-04-27)."Bladesmiths Cut To The Chase In New Competition Series On History".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  32. ^Petski, Denise (2018-02-20)."Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh Named President Of ITV America's Sirens Media".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  33. ^"ITV America | An ITV Studios Company".itv-america.com.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  34. ^Petski, Denise (2017-05-23)."Michael Strahan Inks Overall Deal With ITV America".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  35. ^Calvario, Liz (13 July 2016)."John Cena Inks Deal With Leftfield Entertainment To Create TV Content | IndieWire".www.indiewire.com.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  36. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2015-12-01)."Bethenny Frankel Launches Production Company, Inks Deal with Leftfield Entertainment".Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  37. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2016-06-01)."'Good Morning America's' Lara Spencer Inks Production Deal with Leftfield Entertainment ".Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  38. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2016-01-27)."Timbaland & La La Anthony Developing Hip Hop Docuseries".Variety.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  39. ^"Brent Montgomery Launches Wheelhouse Entertainment".Broadcasting & Cable.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  40. ^"This Guy Made $360M in Reality TV — Now He Wants Real Money".The Hollywood Reporter.30 January 2019.Retrieved2019-02-22.
  41. ^"Brent Montgomery to enter Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame".Retrieved2016-10-08.
  42. ^Robb, David (2016-10-06)."Nonfiction Producers Association Expands Membership & Exec Committee".Deadline.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  43. ^Robb, David (2017-06-05)."Reality TV Trade Organizations Merge, Form NPACT".Deadline.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  44. ^Turchiano, Danielle (2018-04-27)."NPACT Announces Inaugural NPACT Impact Awards, Books Bob Saget as Host (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved2018-05-15.
  45. ^"Lincoln Center Corporate Fund Members".www.lccorporatefund.org.Retrieved2016-10-08.
  46. ^"Page 3 | The Paley Center for Media".The Paley Center for Media.6 November 2015.Retrieved2016-10-08.
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