Jenny Groom Joins Amazon as Head of MGM Alternative

Former BBC Studios and NBCUniversal executive Jenny Groom has been appointed Head of MGM Alternative at Amazon, taking charge of unscripted franchises including Survivor, Shark Tank, and The Voice. The executive appointment was announced by Jenn Levy, Head of Nonfiction at Amazon MGM Studios, on 4 November 2026, with Groom scheduled to assume her position at the end of the month. Groom succeeds Barry Poznick, who departed the unscripted division a year ago. For Malaysian audiences, the leadership transition directly shapes the international development pipeline for reality television formats and Prime Video programming, though Malaysian broadcast channels and streaming availability for future slates remain unconfirmed.

Key Facts

Former BBC Studios and NBCUniversal executive Jenny Groom has officially joined Amazon MGM Studios as the Head of MGM Alternative, succeeding Barry Poznick to oversee major unscripted television franchises, studio format libraries, and third-party network development starting at the end of November 2026.

Jenny Groom officially begins her executive duties as Head of MGM Alternative at the end of November 2026.

What Shows and Franchises Will Jenny Groom Oversee at MGM Alternative?

Jenny Groom will oversee major unscripted television properties, including reality competition series Survivor, Shark Tank, and The Voice, alongside the studio's broader unscripted format library. Her operational remit requires developing original programming for Prime Video while packaging and selling unscripted content to outside network broadcasters and competing global streaming services.

The executive's purview encompasses unscripted production labels Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment. Evolution Media produces The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules, and E!'s Botched. Big Fish Entertainment produces History's Greatest Mysteries for History, Ugliest House in America for HGTV, and Seeking Brother Husband for TLC, while MGM Alternative also produces On Patrol: Live.

MGM Alternative manages major television franchises including Survivor, The Voice, and multiple entries in The Real Housewives catalog.

Why Did Amazon MGM Studios Hire Jenny Groom for Its Unscripted Slate?

Amazon MGM Studios selected Jenny Groom due to her extensive unscripted background spanning programming procurement and production development across major American studios. Jenn Levy, Head of Nonfiction at Amazon MGM Studios, stated that Groom's unscripted expertise positions MGM Alternative to expand productions internally for Prime Video and distribute shows across external platforms.

Groom previously served as Executive Vice President of Unscripted Development at BBC Studios from January 2025, where she worked on Nation's Dumbest for Fox and Dancing with the Stars spin-off The Next Pro. Prior to that, Groom spent nearly two decades at NBCUniversal as EVP of Entertainment Unscripted Content, greenlighting The Traitors and Love Island while supervising Password, That's My Jam, and the Weakest Link reboot.

Jenny Groom brings nearly two decades of executive unscripted television experience from NBCUniversal and BBC Studios to Amazon.

What It Means for Viewers in Malaysia

The executive appointment signals ongoing development for prominent unscripted television franchises, but Malaysian broadcast distribution and streaming availability remain unconfirmed. Although Amazon operates Prime Video in Malaysia, third-party network licensing agreements govern the regional transmission of MGM Alternative formats such as Survivor, The Voice, and The Real Housewives.

In Malaysia, unscripted series produced by MGM Alternative are historically licensed across competing services such as Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Astro, or linear pay television rather than consolidating on a single provider. Because MGM Alternative produces for both Prime Video and outside broadcasters, local premiere dates, platform availability, and Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF) classifications have not been confirmed.

Malaysian broadcast windows and local streaming platform availability for upcoming MGM Alternative projects have not been confirmed.

Common Questions

This section addresses key inquiries regarding Jenny Groom's appointment as Head of MGM Alternative, including her executive background, operational timeline at Amazon MGM Studios, and distribution models for unscripted programming. Specific regional details regarding Malaysian streaming availability and broadcast platforms remain subject to international rights agreements.

MGM Alternative produces unscripted television content for both Amazon's streaming services and third-party media networks worldwide.

Who was the previous unscripted chief at MGM Alternative?

Barry Poznick previously served as unscripted chief for MGM Alternative before exiting the studio approximately one year ago. The unscripted division was subsequently placed under Amazon MGM Studios in 2025, operating under Head of Nonfiction Jenn Levy.

When does Jenny Groom officially take charge of MGM Alternative?

Jenny Groom officially begins her role as Head of MGM Alternative at the end of November 2026. She joins Amazon after serving as Executive Vice President of Unscripted Development at BBC Studios since January 2025.

Will MGM Alternative productions stream exclusively on Prime Video in Malaysia?

Malaysian streaming availability for upcoming MGM Alternative programming has not been confirmed. Although Amazon operates Prime Video locally, MGM Alternative produces formats for external networks and broadcasters alongside Prime Video, with international broadcast distribution negotiated on a title-by-title basis.

Sources and Methodology

This dispatch was produced by ROCKSTARmedia Movies using reporting published by Peter White in Deadline on 4 November 2026. Editorial details were confirmed on 5 November 2026. No box office figures, production budgets, or monetary valuations were disclosed in the source material, precluding Malaysian ringgit financial conversions.

All details in this dispatch are sourced directly from industry reporting published by Deadline on 4 November 2026.