or


[04/15/21 - 11:15 AM]
Craig Piligian Renews Long-Term Agreement as CEO and Chair of Pilgrim Media Group, Expands Responsibilities to Include Oversight of Lionsgate's Unscripted Television Business
Under the new agreement, Piligian has also been elevated to Chair of Pilgrim Media Group.

[via press release from Lionsgate]

CRAIG PILIGIAN RENEWS LONG-TERM AGREEMENT AS CEO AND CHAIR OF PILGRIM MEDIA GROUP, EXPANDS RESPONSIBILITIES TO INCLUDE OVERSIGHT OF LIONSGATE'S UNSCRIPTED TELEVISION BUSINESS

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 15, 2021 -- Acclaimed Emmy(R) and NAACP award-winning producer Craig Piligian has signed a new long-term agreement with global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), expanding his purview to become President of Lionsgate's nonfiction television business while continuing as CEO of Pilgrim Media Group. Under the new agreement, Piligian has also been elevated to Chair of Pilgrim Media Group.

In his role as President of Lionsgate Nonfiction Television, a new position, Piligian will be responsible for overseeing Lionsgate's unscripted television business, developing new nonfiction series and managing the Company's partnerships with unscripted television producers.

Pilgrim Media Group, in which Lionsgate acquired a majority stake in 2015, has established itself as a leader in nonfiction programming with nearly 20 current series for major network partners. Its slate includes the upcoming "The Ultimate Surfer" (ABC), "The Ultimate Fighter" (ESPN+), "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" (TLC) and the "Street Outlaws" (Discovery) and "Wicked Tuna" (National Geographic) franchises. Piligian has also produced critically acclaimed documentaries such as Soufra, Tre Maison Dasan, The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story and Giving Voice.

"Craig is a great partner, a savvy strategist and a leading creative force in the unscripted world," said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. "This is an opportunity to continue simplifying our business by bringing all of our unscripted operations together under Craig's oversight while enabling him to continue overseeing Pilgrim's world-class nonfiction brand."

"Pilgrim is a powerhouse in unscripted content so we're fortunate to have the experience and expertise of its leader as we continue to fill our nonfiction programming pipeline," said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. "We look forward to drawing upon Craig's wealth of creative relationships in building our unscripted business alongside Pilgrim as a major player in the nonfiction space."

"It's a pleasure to work with Kevin Beggs and Sandra Stern, and I look forward to collaborating with the rest of their television team in developing premium nonfiction programming for Lionsgate," said Piligian. "I also welcome the opportunity to continue partnering with Jon Feltheimer, a one-of-a-kind CEO who has created an entrepreneurial and collaborative culture at Lionsgate in which Pilgrim has been empowered to flourish."

Piligian has been a major player in nonfiction programming for nearly three decades. An original executive producer of the seminal CBS hit "Survivor," Piligian began his career in the news business, then went on to produce some of the first reality programming. He founded Pilgrim Films & Television (now Pilgrim Media Group) in 1997, subsequently creating several of television's most groundbreaking and enduring unscripted series for U.S. and international airing.

He has consistently ranked among the Top 10 producers in The Hollywood Reporter's annual Reality Power List and Variety's annual Reality Impact Report. Additionally, Realscreen has honored him with its Producer Extraordinaire award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame. Piligian was Broadcasting & Cable magazine's first-ever Producer of the Year and was also recognized by Next TV Summit as Innovator of the Year. He serves on the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's Board of Directors.

Alice Dickens-Koblin, who stepped in from Starz to ramp up Lionsgate's unscripted business, will continue her role as Starz SVP and Head of Unscripted Television for the global premium streaming service. She will also continue to lead Lionsgate's 1619 Project unscripted content based on materials from the Pulitzer Prize(R)-winning 1619 Project, including the recently announced documentary series for Hulu to which Oprah Winfrey, The New York Times and Roger Ross Williams are attached.

Lionsgate's unscripted television roster includes "House of Ho" on HBO Max, "Selling Sunset" and "Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up" on Netflix and "De Viaje con Los Derbez" on Pantaya.

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Lionsgate EVP & General Counsel Corii Berg, EVP Business & Legal Affairs Randall Jackson, EVP & Associate General Counsel Adrian Kuzycz, SVP Business & Legal Affairs Rahwa Ghebre-Ab and SVP Business & Legal Affairs Steve Gofman and for Piligian by Sidley Austin's Matt Thompson, Rollin Ransom, and Vijay Sekhon, and Bill Pace from Andersen Tax.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Combining the STARZ premium global subscription platform with world-class motion picture and television studio operations, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) brings a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. Its film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and the largest collection of film and television franchises in the independent media space. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for the audiences it serves worldwide.

ABOUT PILGRIM

Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company headed by Emmy(R)-winning producer Craig Piligian, produces a diverse slate of unscripted and scripted programming across all platforms. The company is behind hit series like "Ghost Hunters," "American Chopper," "Fast N' Loud," the "Street Outlaws" and "Wicked Tuna" franchises, "My Big Fat Fabulous Life," "Dodgeball Thunderdome," "Bring It!," "Battlefish," and "The Ultimate Fighter." Among Pilgrim's feature documentaries are the award-winning films Soufra, Tre Maison Dasan, now streaming on Hulu and PBS.org respectively, The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story for YouTube Premium, and the 2020 Sundance Festival Favorite Award winner, Giving Voice. Global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) is a majority investor in Pilgrim.





  [april 2021]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[04/25/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Earnhardt" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Start your engines. "Earnhardt" premieres May 22 on Prime Video.

[04/25/25 - 09:12 AM]
One Hell of A Week in New York City with "The Walking Dead: Dead City" Beginning Sunday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 30
AMC is partnering with iconic NYC establishments and events, including the Empire State Building, Citi Field, the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon, PopUp Bagels and more, featuring merchandise giveaways and the show's iconic Walkers.

[04/25/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Sirens" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Worried about her sister's too-close relationship with her billionaire boss, a scrappy everywoman seeks answers at a lavish seaside estate.

[04/25/25 - 08:00 AM]
Peacock Sets Streaming Debut Dates for Focus Features' "Black Bag" and Universal Pictures' "Love Hurts"
Steven Soderbergh's "Black Bag" streams exclusively on Peacock beginning May 2; while Jonathan Eusebio's "Love Hurts" is due on May 9.

[04/24/25 - 01:04 PM]
Saddle Up! New Docuseries "Not Her First Rodeo" Lands at Hulu and Freeform
From ABC News Studios, "Not Her First Rodeo" is a six-part docuseries inside the adrenaline-fueled world of professional bull riding.

[04/24/25 - 12:12 PM]
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Asks Where the X Am I? in NBC's New Travel Competition Series "Destination X," Premiering Tuesday, May 27 at 10 P.M. ET/PT
Viewers can catch an exclusive sneak peek of the series after the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3 at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT and MT, and 7:30 p.m. PT on NBC.

[04/24/25 - 12:00 PM]
"Yellowjackets" Sets Record with Most Watched Season in Series History on Paramount+ with Showtime
The series is now the number two most-streamed global Showtime original ever, only behind "Dexter: Original Sin."

[04/24/25 - 11:00 AM]
The "83rd Annual Golden Globes" to Air Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, on CBS
Nominations for the Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, December 8.

[04/24/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: "Football Parents" - Official Teaser - Netflix
When it comes to their children's amateur football careers, this group of parents has no shame, no chill - and a peculiar sense of team spirit.

[04/24/25 - 10:30 AM]
FOX Unveils Its Summer 2025 Schedule, Featuring New and Returning Unscripted Series and All-New Episodes of "Animation Domination" Favorites
Look for new episodes of "Bob's Burgers," "Grimsburg," "Family Guy" and "The Great North" beginning Thursday, May 29.

[04/24/25 - 10:14 AM]
Love, Desire, and Shocking Twists in TLC's New Series, "90 Day: Hunt for Love"
Set in Tulum, Mexico, these love-hungry alums have loved, lost and learned a few lessons along the way.

[04/24/25 - 10:04 AM]
New Season of "Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy & Juan" Premieres Friday, May 9 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
With gold prices surging to new records, the modern-day rush is on.

[04/24/25 - 10:01 AM]
Oxygen True Crime's "Unknown Serial Killers of America" Premieres Sunday, May 18 at 7 P.M. ET/PT
Each hour-long episode of "Unknown Serial Killers of America" profiles the horrific stories of these unconscionable criminals, and delves into what transformed them into evil monsters.

[04/24/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Love Death + Robots" Volume 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
The Emmy-winning anthology of twisted tales from strange worlds returns, with stories featuring MrBeast and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[04/24/25 - 10:01 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Closes Out Milestone 50th Season with Three Back-to-Back Shows in May
Walton Goggins and Scarlett Johansson will follow the previously announced Quinta Brunson as hosts.