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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

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

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

  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.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Montgomery