Relativity Media Gets Real With Launch Of Reality

Marking a significant expansion into the television arena, Relativity Media has announced the launch of Relativity Real, a reality and alternative television production, sales and distribution entity. Tom Forman, a three-time Emmy winner, joins as CEO. Relativity has concurrently established its own foreign sales arm to sell Relativity Real programs and formats to the international marketplace, also under the supervision of Forman, who will run day-to-day affairs and serve as executive producer on the majority of Relativity Real projects.

Forman has won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” while in an overall deal with international unscripted giant Endemol USA and one for the non-fiction special “9/11” (which also won a Murrow and Peabody Award). He also spent the last two years in an overall deal at CBS Paramount, where he created and executive produced “Kid Nation,” “Armed & Famous,” as well as pilots.  Forman spent a decade at CBS News producing prime time documentaries and magazines.

Tom Forman, formally head of Tom Forman Productions, will be joined by his entire staff at Relativity Real. They include Jonathan Karsh (Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs) who was awarded both the Audience and Best Director Awards at the Sundance Film Festival for his documentary “My Flesh and Blood.” Karsh worked alongside Forman on all his productions, and served as host of “Kid Nation” for CBS. Also following Forman to Relativity Real are Brad Bishop (Executive Vice President of Production) and Julie Link (Vice President of Development). Both worked under Forman at both Endemol USA and CBS. Other hiring announcements are expected shortly.

Relativity is committing significant eight figures to the launch and expansion of Relativity Real to quickly establish the new company as a significant supplier of unscripted programming for networks, cable, syndication, and the web.

“We have spent the last number of years trying to figure out the best fiscal model for Relativity’s expansion into the television arena, as well as the right person to run it. This platform comes as a result of exactly that, years of research, financial and creative assessment and we couldn’t be more optimistic about Relativity Real’s future. Under Tom’s leadership we expect to break the current barriers of reality TV and establish a new paradigm,” said Kavanuagh. “Our goal is ultimately to be a major supplier of high quality and commercial content to the domestic and international marketplace.”

"Relativity Real is a company of storytellers. Bottom line, every one of us is a producer first, and a stuffy executive only when we have to be. In this, we couldn't have found a better partner than Ryan and his team at Relativity,” said Forman. “Their financial commitment to Relativity Real speaks for itself: a monster investment in a major new company that's poised to reinvent unscripted television. Relativity's other commitments to Relativity Real are harder to quantify but equally important. It was clear from our first meeting that Ryan and I share a passion for great stories, memorable characters, and novel ideas. You can see it in Relativity's films. Now you'll feel it in every one of Relativity Real's programs."

Andrew Marcus, COO, and Aaron Michiel, SVP Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of Relativity Media, LLC. On Forman's side, deal was brokered by attorneys Harold Brown and Bianca Levin of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, as well at UTA partner Michael Camacho who will continue to represent Tom Forman.