Studio71 Appoints President of Unscripted Television

LOS ANGELES: ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s multichannel network Studio71 (formerly Collective Digital Studio) has appointed Rabih Gholam to the newly created position of president of unscripted television.

Gholam, who most recently served as executive VP and head of unscripted programming at Ryan Seacrest Productions, will be tasked with continuing to build Studio71’s television business and developing television opportunities and intellectual property for its top YouTube and social media influencers. He will report to board member Michael Green.

Gholam’s credits at Ryan Seacrest Productions include Becoming Us and I Love Kellie Pickler. He has also been involved with programs such as The Surreal Life, The Mole and Whose Line Is It Anyway?

“We produced, distributed and marketed intellectual property off YouTube before anyone else with Fred on Nickelodeon, Video Game High School on Netflix and Epic Meal Time’s Epic Meal Empire on FYI Network,” said Green. “Continuing to develop and produce original premium content is our top focus, and Rabih brings years of experience and relationships in unscripted television to Studio71, so we can maximize opportunities for our creators across every possible platform. We want to create hits, and he’ll help us do so.”

“More than ever before, we are seeing a clear merger between digital and traditional linear television,” said Gholam. “Studio71 represents many of the top influencers in the digital space across YouTube, Vine, Instagram and Snapchat. To me, it’s one big casting call, and I’ve been charged with developing the right projects and formats for them, whether those projects live on TV or one of today’s many digital platforms.”