Rare TV hires Discovery alum Greg Chivers for US programming

Greg Chivers

UK-based factual and formats prodco Rare TV has appointed writer, story consultant and executive producer Greg Chivers to the newly created role of US showrunner.

Chivers joins the international team at Rare TV, working alongside VP of US development Christian Broadhurst and reporting to CEO Alexander Gardiner. He starts work immediately as exec producer of the fourth series of Ice Airport Alaska, Smithsonian Channel’s show about the daily challenges faced by staff at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens Airport.

He arrives at the company from Discovery, where he served as story consultant, providing editorial leadership to US and overseas production partners. Prior to this, he worked as executive producer and SVP of Wag Entertainment, where his credits included NASA’s Unexplained Files, Discovery Science’s What on Earth? and Discovery Quest’s Combat Dealers.

Meanwhile, development producer Abigail Keyes is joining the company’s Belfast office, which is moving into larger premises next month to service its production pipeline.

Keyes, who joins colleague Stephen McVey in the development team, was recently named among The Edinburgh TV Festival’s Ones To Watch cohort. Her credits include development roles at Two Rivers, Afro-Mic and Hungry Bear.

Alexander Gardiner, CEO of Rare TV, said: “Greg is a hugely experienced exec who brings real ballast to our team. He’s a creative heavyweight, but he also really cares about safety and wellbeing, which is invaluable, given that a lot of our filming is done in remote and inaccessible areas. He’s a great addition to the Rare TV team — as is Abigail, who positively fizzes with fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm.”