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Brent Montgomery

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Brent Montgomery is 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 Texas CBS affiliate KBTX, which subsequently paid for the majority of his tuition at Texas A&M.[9] He later moved to New York and worked on The Bachelor, Wife Swap and Blind 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 series Pawn Stars while in Las Vegas for 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 with Gold & Silver Pawn Shop co-owner Rick Harrison, and pitched the show to the History Channel.[14] In 2009, Pawn Stars premiered 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 to Pawn Stars, other Leftfield Pictures series and Montgomery credits include Alone,[18] American Restoration and Counting Cars for History;[10] American Grit for Fox;[19] Bethenny & Fredrik for Bravo,[20] and National Geographic Channel’s specials Billy the Kid: The New Evidence (executive produced by Kevin Costner)[21] and Brain 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's The Four: Battle for Stardom[27] and Hell’s Kitchen; HGTV's Fixer Upper, Netflix's Queer Eye[28] and Girls Incarcerated,[29] A&E's Duck Dynasty and The First 48,[30] History's Pawn Stars, Alone and Forged in Fire.[31] Bravo's The 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 celebrities Michael Strahan,[34] WWE star John Cena,[35] Bethenny Frankel,[36] Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer,[37] Grammy award-winner Timbaland and author/actress La 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 of The Hollywood Reporter on 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. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  2. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2018-01-29). "Producer Brent Montgomery Unveils Wheelhouse Entertainment, Spoke Studios Ventures". Variety. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  3. ^ "Leadership in Place for Brent Montgomery's Spoke Studios - TVUSA". TVUSA. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  4. ^ "Montgomery names Spoke's leadership team – TBI Vision". tbivision.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  5. ^ "Brent Montgomery sets Spoke Studios executive team". Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2015-12-03). "Brent Montgomery Named CEO of ITV America". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  7. ^ "ITV 2017 Profit Drops, New CEO Carolyn McCall Focuses on "Strategic Refresh"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  8. ^ White, Peter (2018-02-28). "ITV America Doubles Down On Digital Focus After Scoring 'Dark Web' Order For Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  9. ^ "Broadcasting & Cable". www.broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  10. ^ a b c d Barraclough, Leo (2015-10-28). "'Pawn Stars' Creator Brent Montgomery To Lead ITV Studios U.S. Group". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  11. ^ a b "RSL '14: Leftfield's Montgomery recounts route to the top". Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  12. ^ "Brent Montgomery - San Antonio Magazine - January 2013 - San Antonio, TX". www.sanantoniomag.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  13. ^ "'Pawn Stars' creator eyeing S.A." San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  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. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  15. ^ Marechal, AJ (2012-10-17). "Leftfield Pictures expands to L.A." Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  16. ^ "Brent Montgomery - Reality TV: THR's 50 Most Powerful List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  17. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (2015-12-03). "Brent Montgomery Named CEO of ITV America". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  18. ^ Petski, Denise (2016-04-20). "'Alone' Survival Series Renewed For Season 3 By History". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  19. ^ Holloway, Daniel (2016-07-29). "John Cena's 'American Grit' Renewed for Season 2 by Fox". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  20. ^ "Bravo Media tackles home renos in "Bethenny & Fredrik"". Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  21. ^ "Kevin Costner to Take On Billy the Kid Mystery for National Geographic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  22. ^ "National Geographic to Air First Live Brain Surgery on TV (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  23. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2013-03-20). "Leftfield Pictures Acquires 'Real Housewives Of NJ' Producer Sirens Media". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  24. ^ "Nick Rigg Partners With Brent Montgomery for Loud TV | Broadcasting & Cable". www.broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  25. ^ "Leftfield, Jodi Flynn partner for Outpost Entertainment". Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2014-05-07). "ITV Studios Acquires 80% Of 'Pawn Stars' Producer Leftfield Entertainment For $360M". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  27. ^ Pedersen, Erik (2018-04-16). "'The Four': Fox Brings Back Original Host & Judges For Season 2, Sans Charlie Walk; June Premiere Set". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  28. ^ "'Queer Eye' Producers on How the Netflix Update Shifts Its Focus to Red State America". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  29. ^ "Loud TV, Plum Pictures tackle teen incarceration for Netflix". Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  30. ^ "Exclusive: ITV Entertainment options Armoza's "The Bubble"". Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  31. ^ Petski, Denise (2015-04-27). "Bladesmiths Cut To The Chase In New Competition Series On History". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  32. ^ Petski, Denise (2018-02-20). "Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh Named President Of ITV America's Sirens Media". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  33. ^ "ITV America | An ITV Studios Company". itv-america.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  34. ^ Petski, Denise (2017-05-23). "Michael Strahan Inks Overall Deal With ITV America". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  35. ^ Calvario, Liz. "John Cena Inks Deal With Leftfield Entertainment To Create TV Content | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  36. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2015-12-01). "Bethenny Frankel Launches Production Company, Inks Deal with Leftfield Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  37. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2016-06-01). "'Good Morning America's' Lara Spencer Inks Production Deal with Leftfield Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  38. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2016-01-27). "Timbaland & La La Anthony Developing Hip Hop Docuseries". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  39. ^ "Brent Montgomery Launches Wheelhouse Entertainment". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  40. ^ "This Guy Made $360M in Reality TV — Now He Wants Real Money". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  41. ^ "Brent Montgomery to enter Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  42. ^ Robb, David (2016-10-06). "Nonfiction Producers Association Expands Membership & Exec Committee". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  43. ^ Robb, David (2017-06-05). "Reality TV Trade Organizations Merge, Form NPACT". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  44. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (2018-04-27). "NPACT Announces Inaugural NPACT Impact Awards, Books Bob Saget as Host (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  45. ^ "Lincoln Center Corporate Fund Members". www.lccorporatefund.org. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  46. ^ "Page 3 | The Paley Center for Media". The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
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