MUMBAI: Non-fiction reality producers GRB Entertainment ("Growing up Gotti", "Intervention", "Invasion Iowa"), has announced it will be spinning off its existing international distribution division and transforming it into an entirely new venture to be known as GRB Worldwide.

This new entity, which will officially launch at this year's MIP, will focus on the financing, creation, and acquisition of both fiction and non-fiction programming for global distribution. The company will be headed by Gavin Reardon, who has been promoted to president of GRB Worldwide from his current position as senior vice-president, international distribution, for GRB Entertainment, a post he has held for the past five years.

Reardon will report to Gary Benz, president and CEO of GRB Entertainment and will continue to be based in Los Angeles. The announcement was made yesterday by Benz.

While GRB Entertainment currently specializes in reality, docu-drama, and docu-soap programming, GRB Worldwide will concentrate its efforts on expansion into other genres of both non-fiction and fiction programming domestically and internationally. In addition, Reardon plans to work closely with outside producers developing strategic co-production and acquisition partnerships.

Given GRB Worldwide's aggressive stance, they expect to deliver 60 hours of fiction programming, from television series to telefilms, by the end of the first year.

"With eight series on the air and several pilots in production for U.S. broadcasters through GRB Entertainment, we have decided to create and launch GRB Worldwide to better serve the global marketplace and to take advantage of opportunities for fiction programming," commented Benz.