ITV America & Helga Eike Launch Unscripted Production Outfit

NEW YORK: ITV America and Helga Eike (Toddlers & Tiaras, Ace of Cakes, Flipping Out) have launched Red Bandit Media, a new production company that will specialize in unscripted programming.

Eike will serve as president of the new entity, which will be part of ITV America’s portfolio. Red Bandit Media will produce series across a range of unscripted genres. Eike reports to ITV America’s chief creative officer, Adam Sher, and to Leftfield Entertainment’s CEO, David George.

Previously, Eike was senior VP of development at Endemol Shine North America’s Authentic Entertainment. During her ten-year tenure there, she oversaw the creation and sale of hit series such as Best Thing I Ever Ate, Flipping the Block and Knife Fight.

Sher and George commented: “Helga is a prolific producer and executive whose programming abilities transcend nearly every genre, with shows tapping into pop culture in captivating and often surprising ways. We’re extremely excited to have Helga and Red Bandit Media join the ITV America family, and are confident the company will deliver for buyers in today’s competitive and growing marketplace.”

Eike said: “The challenge for all producers has always been to create content that stands out and breaks through, and to do that we must take risks with innovative new formats—and even question what we define as ‘TV.’ In partnering with ITV America, Red Bandit Media will be able to step outside the box while remaining part of a production group that collectively has banked decades of experience and thousands of hours of programming, exactly the strategy that made Leftfield and ITV such powerhouses in our business. I am just thrilled to be part of this team.”