Authentic Entertainment Launches Digital Division

BURBANK: Authentic Entertainment, a U.S.-based production outfit dedicated to nonfiction programming, has launched a new division, Authentic Digital, to support its new-media efforts. 

The new division will focus on syndication of the company’s library titles and generating new revenues in the digital and branded-entertainment markets worldwide. Joe Cantwell has been tapped to serve as managing director of the unit. Cantwell is based in Washington, D.C. and will maintain satellite operations in Authentic’s Burbank headquarters. Authentic currently has nine series on air with nine different U.S. networks, including Lock and Load for Showtime, and is in production on new series and specials for Animal Planet, Discovery, Food Network and Oxygen. The nonfiction outfit recently entered into a co-production pact with WE tv and Alchemy for the new reality series You’re Wearing That?!, with the three companies dividing rights according to each of their primary territories and platforms.