Move comes as Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman step down as co-presidents at Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction
Sony Pictures Television’s unscripted chiefs Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman are stepping down from the US studio.
Holzman and Saidman had overseen SPT Nonfiction as president and co-president respectively since 2022 when Sony acquired Industrial Media for around $350m.
The group was made up of companies including Holzman and Saidman’s Intellectual Property Company (IPC), B17 Entertainment, 19 Entertainment and House of NonFiction.
Its output ranges from American Idol and Shark Tank, to the 90 Day Fiancé franchise, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, and the upcoming unscripted adaptation of Clue.
The duo’s exit has prompted a restructuring at SPT. Holzman and Saidman had reported into chairman Keith Le Goy but SPT Nonfiction is now being moved under Katherine Pope’s Sony Pictures Television Studios.
Its gameshows unit - producer of series such as Jeopardy - continues to be led by president Suzanne Prete, who will continue reporting into Le Goy.
The shift means Pope now oversees most unscripted fare at SPT, as well as scripted children’s.
Industrial Media was created after IPC was acquired and expanded by Idol creator Core Media in 2018, befor being sold to Sony four years later.
Prior to IPC, Holzman had run the US division of Studio Lambert and All3Media America, where he worked with Saidman, who was exec vice-president of development and current programming.
Le Goy wrote in a note to staff that Holzman and Saidman were departing “to pursue their next entrepreneurial venture.”
He added: “Over the past four years, Eli and Aaron have played a critical role in shaping and expanding our nonfiction portfolio.
“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.”
He added that moving the unscripted division under Pope would “further align our creative operations, accelerate collaboration across teams, and enable us to unlock greater long-term value across the portfolio.”
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