Lionsgate Television said it signed a new multiyear employment agreement with executive VP, worldwide production, Gary Goodman.

Goodman is in charge of production of Lionsgate’s scripted series and its TV production facilities in Yonkers, New York; Atlanta; and one that is about to open in Newark, New Jersey.

“Gary’s production leadership has been a vital part of our success for nearly 20 years, successfully guiding us through the pandemic and last year’s double strikes with minimum interruption and downtime,” said Lionsgate Television group chair and chief creative officer Kevin Beggs and vice chair Sandra Stern. “He has been a key driver in expanding our production footprint with new studio facilities and will continue to be a valuable member of our television leadership team and a source of innovative production expertise moving forward.”

TV production has grown to a $1.5 billion business for Lionsgate, and Goodman has been head of production as the company has turned out series including Mad Men, Orange Is the New Black, Mythic Quest, the Power franchise for Starz and The Continental, which recently streamed on Peacock and Prime Video.

In all the company has 20 shares in production this year, including Ghosts on CBS and The Rookie on ABC.

He is currently leading production on Extended Family for Peacock, The Studio for Apple TV Plus and The Hunting Wives and Spartacus for Starz.

Lionsgate said that Sandra Stern has been promoted to vice chairman of the company’s television group.

Stern, who was COO, has been a key member of the television unit’s senior management team, helping to lead it to one if its most successful years in 2022.

Stern continues to report to Lionsgate Television Group Chair & Chief Creative Officer Kevin Beggs.

"Sandra is a great partner, an outstanding executive and one of the best dealmakers in the business," said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. "With Kevin Beggs and Sandra leading the way, our television business is positioned to create growing value and increasing profitability as its current slate continues to mature and exciting new properties are added."

This year, the Lionsgate TV group had a record 14 new shows picked up to series and 15 current series renewed for additional seasons. The company’s series include ABC’s Home Economics, Fox’s Welcome to Flatch and CBS’s Ghosts.

With streaming platforms, she shepherded Love Life, Julia, Minx and the upcoming Love and Death to HBO Max, Mythic Quest and Acapulco to Apple TV and P-Valley, The Serpent Queen and the Power Universe to Starz.

In the past, Stern made deals that led to Lionsgate producing Mad Men, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, Nashville and Orange Is the New Black.

"Sandra is a gifted negotiator with an intuitive understanding of the needs of our streaming, broadcast and cable partners as well as a unique ability to create win/win relationships," said Beggs. "After nearly 20 years, our partnership continues to grow and evolve with the fast-changing television landscape." ■

Lionsgate Television Group said it has signed an overall deal with Ellen Rapoport, creator, executive producer and showrunner of the HBO Max comedy series Minx.

The deal calls for Rapoport to create additional scripted content. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“All of us at Lionsgate are blown away by how the world of Minx has resonated with viewers as her work seamlessly weaves nuanced humor into complex and enticing stories,” said Scott Herbst, head of scripted development and executive VP at Lionsgate TV. “To be able to have a deal with a writer who puts the word shvantz back in the lexicon would make my Jewish grandmother proud.”

Minx premiered on HBO Max in March. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of a young feminist who works with a low-rent publisher to create an erotic magazine for women. The show was renewed in May.

"Throughout the making of Minx I kept waiting for someone to save me from my more outrageous instincts,“ Rapoport said. “Obviously, that never happened. So it seems like I’ve found my people. Thrilled to be joining the Lionsgate family even if I have to cross the 405 to get to their offices!”

Before Minx, Rapoport co-wrote the movie Clifford the Big Red Dog and Netflix’s Desperados.

Minx is executive produced by Paul Feig and stars Ophelia Lovibond, Jake Johnson, and Lennon Parham.

Rapoport is represented by UTA and Karl Austen of Jackoway Austen. ■

Laura Kennedy has been promoted to COO of the Lionsgate Television Group.

In her new post, Kennedy will head up operations, strategy and planning for one of the largest independent TV businesses in the industry. Lionsgate has nearly 90 shows on 40 different networks, including Orange Is the New Black (Netflix), Nashville (CMT) and Greenleaf (OWN).

Kennedy will also continue to direct M&A activity related to television operations. In her previous position as executive vice president of television operations and corporate development, she was one of the deal makers involved in Lionsgate’s $4.4 billion acquisition of premium network Starz.

“Laura has been instrumental in helping us rapidly grow and diversify our television business,” said Kevin Beggs, chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group. “She has a great understanding of where the industry is headed, coupled with the ability to plan the acquisitions and internal growth that will enable us to execute our strategic vision.”

Kennedy will report to Beggs.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.