Sky Studios’ Catalina Content Names President

Veteran producer Jeff Collins has been named president of Catalina Content, a new Los Angeles-based production label backed by Sky Studios in the U.K.

In his new role, Collins will oversee all creative—from development to current—and be tasked with creating character-driven and female-skewing programming, as well as entertainment formats for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. New appointments to the Los Angeles headquarters will be forthcoming.

Throughout his career, Collins has built a reputation for creating and producing groundbreaking unscripted series such as Bridezillas (WE tv), Billy the Exterminator (A&E), American Colony Meet the Hutterites (National Geographic), and eight seasons of Dance Moms (Lifetime) and its spinoffs Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition (Lifetime), Raising Asia (Lifetime), Dance Moms Miami (Lifetime) and Sisters In Law (WeTV).

Collins recently departed from Collins Avenue, a production company he launched in 2009. Prior to Collins Avenue, he served as VP of Leeza Gibbons Enterprises at Paramount Studios, where he was responsible for documentary and specials programming. With over two decades of experience, Collins has produced thousands of hours of television across multiple genres and networks, including HGTV, Lifetime, FYI, E!, TLC, CW, WE tv, Animal Planet and Nat Geo.

Catalina Content is the latest addition to the Sky Studios non-scripted portfolio, and complements Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running reality-crime series such as Snapped, ID Murder Mystery, In Pursuit with John Walsh and Joe Kenda and Homicide Hunter; Love Productions, best known for The Great American Baking Show; Znak & Co, international format creators (Fox’s upcoming Ultimate Tag); and Talos Films, creators/producers of award-winning documentary, factual and scripted projects for a long list of U.S. distributors.

“We have landed a prime asset in Jeff. His proven success in creating and developing character-led programming is an ideal complement to our factual businesses,” said Jane Millichip, chief commercial officer of Sky Studios.

Collins added: “I’ve launched a company from the ground up, so I know what an exciting adventure it is. With the backing and support of a global, creative giant like Sky Studios, this new chapter will be exponentially more spectacular across the board. I am humbled by the opportunity and can’t wait to join such a great stable of producers.”