Erik Saltzgaber

World Screen Weekly, March 29, 2007

VP of International Sales and Distribution

Associated Television International

Associated Television International (ATI) produces and distributes high-end documentaries and non-fiction programming that covers a wide range of subjects. From topical specials such as Unlocking Da Vinci’s Code and Real Pirates of the Caribbean to shows that offer a historical perspective, like Unlocking Ancient Secrets Of The Bible. “It’s a wonderful combination of the scientific and the spiritual,” says Erik Saltzgaber, the VP of international sales and distribution at ATI. “It takes certain Bible quotes and incidents, and a variety of archaeologists and historians and puts them into context and it’s really fascinating.”

Series on contemporary topics, such as Real Vice Cops, are also part of ATI’s slate. “Real Vice Cops is a reality show that follows vice cops as they do their job in various cities,” explains Saltzgaber. “The footage that we’ve gotten so far has been extraordinary and that’s the kind of thing that has international appeal.”

One special that Saltzgaber is particularly eager to show buyers at MIPTV is Life Below The Line: The World Poverty Crisis. Hosted by Bryant Gumbel, this hour-long special will air on The CW in the U.S. on April 6. “It’s an extraordinary show, shot that on location here in the U.S., in Kenya and in the Dominican Republic. It’s very, very impactful. It looks at the world poverty crisis and points to the fact that the vast majority of the people in the world live below the poverty line and are starving.”

Saltzgaber believes that ATI is free to pursue such a wide range of programming because the company is 100 percent self financed. “David McKenzie [ATI’s president] is just a superlative businessman and he has been able to build this company to the point where we are self sustaining, we carry no debt and we’re able to finance all of our productions,” he says.

“We are one of the biggest independent producers of television in the U.S.,” continues Saltzgaber, who explains that financial independence gives ATI significant freedom. “We can pursue and produce anything that catches our fancy or that we believe is going to be marketable, and we don’t have to answer to shareholders, a bank, or any other equity source.”

ATI also gives Saltzgaber the freedom to go beyond simply selling programs. He is often involved as executive producer. He is the executive producer on the Real Vice Cops series and is also the producer and writer on Inside Hockey. “That’s something that I’m involved with because I’m just nuts about hockey,” he says. “I’m a lifelong fan of the game, I’m a lifelong player of the game—I currently play on two different teams. And we’ve really scored some terrific footage and interviews. It’s a great show for the international market because all the Scandinavian countries are involved in hockey, as is Germany, even the U.K. has a thriving league, and of course, Canada. I’m very, very happy with that show.”

As busy as he is at ATI, Saltzgaber still finds time to indulge in another passion of his—screenwriting. “I had a couple of films produced, one by Joel Silver, and last season I wrote an episode of CSI,” he says, adding, “I try to be bit of a renaissance man.”