Reality TV producer Mark Burnett, the man behind “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” has signed a deal with promoter AEG Live for the two to jointly develop live and TV shows based on their properties, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are reporting.
Financial terms of the new arrangement are unknown, but besides exploring potential TV and stage connections from existing properties, the two will also create new properties that will integrate TV and live entertainment elements from the start. One project that might be headed for the road is a live version of the family TV show “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” which Burnett produces.
The two sides worked together on Burnett’s boxing show “The Contender,” when AEG Live produced live boxing matches. AEG Live, which promoted the wildly successful, and controversial Hannah Montana tour, has sought to up its profile in recent years, and the deal with Burnett comes after AEG Live was negotiating with Cablevision and Ticketmaster to sell a significant stake in the company. That deal died when the trio could not agree on terms.
“With the TV audience increasingly fractured, the one thing that’s stronger than ever is live entertainment,” Burnett told Daily Variety. “And I’ve already had really great experiences with AEG. It’s a well-organized, efficient company that’s very good for my business.”
