LOS ANGELES — Studio71, the multichannel network of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, announced that the company has hired Rabih Gholam as president of unscripted television, a newly created position. Gholam most recently served as EVP, head of unscripted programming at Ryan Seacrest Productions. In his new role, Gholam will continue to build Studio71’s television business and develop television opportunities and intellectual property for its top YouTube and social media influencers. He will report to Studio71 board member Michael Green.
“We produced, distributed and marketed intellectual property off YouTube before anyone else with Fred on Nickelodeon, Video Game High School on Netflix and Epic Meal Time’s Epic Meal Empire on FYI Network,” says Green. “Continuing to develop and produce original premium content is our top focus, and Rabih brings years of experience and relationships in unscripted television to Studio71, so we can maximize opportunities for our creators across every possible platform. We want to create hits, and he’ll help us do so.”
“More than ever before, we are seeing a clear merger between digital and traditional linear television,” adds Gholam. “Studio71 represents many of the top influencers in the digital space across YouTube, Vine, Instagram and Snapchat. To me, it’s one big casting call, and I’ve been charged with developing the right projects and formats for them, whether those projects live on TV or one of today’s many digital platforms.”
Gholam has been a part of memorable, provocative and popular programming, including The Surreal Life, The Mole and Whose Line Is It Anyway? Most recently at Ryan Seacrest Productions, Gholam helped build a robust, diverse development slate, including two shows that went straight to series: Becoming Us at ABC Family (now Freeform) and I Love Kellie Pickler at CMT. Prior to RSP, Gholam served as EVP of alternative programming at 51 Minds, the Endemol-based production banner, where he helped the company go from producing for a single cable network to an industry powerhouse responsible for hundreds of hours of television.