SK Global Acquires Critical Content

SK Global has purchased Critical Content, which produces unscripted formats and shows, from Anchorage Capital Group.

Critical Content is an Emmy Award-winning studio, behind the long-running MTV franchise Catfish. The studio is producing a growing lifestyle and documentary slate for Netflix, including Get Organized with the Home Edit and World’s Most Amazing Vacation, along with shows in production and development with Amazon, Disney+, Peacock, Hulu, Roku, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, The CW, MTV, BET, Discovery/discovery+, E!, Bravo, USA, A&E, Lifetime, TLC, TBS, Oxygen, Animal Planet, Freeform, Food Network, OWN, HGTV, WE tv, Travel Channel, Showtime, Crackle and YouTube Originals.

Additionally, Critical Content has an ownership stake in the U.K.-based Renowned Films.

Tom Forman will continue to serve as CEO of Critical Content, and Jenny Daly will continue to serve as president of Critical Content.

SK Global Chairman Sidney Kimmel and Co-CEO John Penotti commented: “SK Global is in growth mode, and this acquisition represents the expansion of our content and capabilities with the addition of Critical Content’s unparalleled unscripted expertise. Tom, Jenny and the Critical Content team have built a powerhouse company that excels in the nonfiction arena and has successfully expanded its business with a wide slate of programming across all major streaming platforms. Critical Content’s prowess in reality series and specials presents the perfect complement to SK Global’s award-winning feature film and scripted television business. Our intention is to build the top independent content company at scale, with the ability to tell stories in every format and genre.”

Co-CEO Charlie Corwin added: “Not since my time as co-chairman and CEO of Endemol Shine Americas have I seen reality programming in such high demand with audiences and buyers. I believe there is a big opportunity in the reinvention and resurgence of the global format business. In fact, our mission is to create culturally-specific story franchises that are accessible to a global audience through brand extensions. Now with Critical Content, this approach applies to movies and television, scripted and unscripted.”

Forman and Daly said: “We are thrilled that we landed with SK Global, whose business strategy and proven leadership team made it the company best positioned to fuel our expansion into new territories and innovative business opportunities. As we quickly integrate, we look forward to combining forces with Charlie and John in building impactful premium content with SK Global.”