AMC Entertainment Networks Group brings Studios operation in-house

AMC Networks is bringing its Studios operation in-house in a restructure that sees the departure of David Madden.

The exec, who joined AMC in 2017, served as president of programming for the Entertainment Networks Group and AMC Studios.

However, under the business’s “strategic realignment” the studio will come under centralised leadership – that of Sarah Barnett, president of the Entertainment Networks Group for AMC Networks – and closer to its networks operations, which encompass four scripted networks including AMC, BBC America, SundanceTV and IFC, along with ad-free premium channel AMC Premiere.

Madden is to leave the role later this month. AMC will recruit for a programming head for the Entertainment Networks Group to manage programming slates for AMC, BBC America, SundanceTV and IFC.

AMC is home to dramas including Better Call Saul, Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead, which returns for its 10th season this autumn, while BBC America has greenlit a third season of Killing Eve. The latter channel is also readying a micro-network called Wonderstruck that will devote Saturdays to natural history programmes.

Barnett said the business is “already seeing the benefits of our entertainment networks working more closely together”.

The exec called the integration of the studios operation “the next logical strategic step… so that the people making our celebrated series are more closely coordinated with the marketing, scheduling and publicity teams who connect our shows to passionate fans.

“We believe this new structure best positions our nimble organisation for success in an increasingly competitive environment. I thank David for being a wonderful and consummate executive and for the creative leadership he brought to the team. He is enormously respected and admired both by his colleagues across the company and the talented people who make our shows. He will be missed.”

Madden said: “I’m proud of the work the programming team and I have done growing and nurturing our existing shows like The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, Killing Eve, Lodge 49 and others, while also finding fresh new voices and shows like NOS4A2, a new season of The Terror, the forthcoming Dispatches From Elsewhere, a third series in The Walking Dead universe and a slate of strong new series in development.

“I’m ready to move on and focus on new opportunities in the rapidly expanding content space, leaving the current programming and studio operations in good hands and positioned well for the future.”