Lionsgate Finds New Television Group President

Longtime TV development head Scott Herbst has been promoted to president of the Lionsgate Television Group. The announcement was made by Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate Television Group chair and chief creative officer, whom Herbst has worked closely with as he continues to report to Beggs. The studio’s TV Group has also seen Lee Hollin, head of current programming, and Marcello Bellisario, head of casting, sign new longterm deals as part of a revamped TV group leadership that follows Sandra Stern, vice chairman of the Lionsgate TV Group and a 23-year veteran of the studio, stepping down from her post in March 2026. Stern continues with the studio as a longterm consultant. With his promotion from the post of executive vp and head of development, Herbst will lead the Television Group’s creative operations across development, current programming, casting, music and scripted digital series. The exec joined the studio in 2018. Besides Hollin and Bellisario, head of television music Russell Ziecker will also report to Herbst. “I’m incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished and excited about the opportunity ahead of us. I want to thank every writer, producer and representative who has ever called me about an idea that ultimately became one of our shows,” said Herbst in his own statement. “We have assembled a slate that reflects the ambition and range of Lionsgate Television. I’m grateful to Kevin for his trust and look forward to building on our momentum with Lee, Marcello and the rest of the team.” The new role for Herbst follows Lionsgate recently seeing 12 of its 13 current scripted series renewed. That includes Seth Rogen’s The Studio, for Apple TV, and The Hunting Wives, which received an early third-season renewal from Netflix ahead of a second-season premiere on Thanksgiving Day. “Scott is one of the most talented and respected executives in the business, with great relationships, terrific creative instincts and a strong track record of identifying distinctive material,” stated Beggs on Tuesday. “He is expert in developing the bold, noisy shows that break through the clutter and resonate with today’s audiences, and he has played an integral role in the success of our television business. In this expanded leadership role, Scott is positioned to lead our Television Group to an exciting new level of performance.” Other recent renewals and spinoffs across Lionsgate’s scripted slate include Ghosts for CBS, The Rookie and The Rookie: North for ABC and Hulu, the Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets for Showtime, P-Valley and the first four Power Universe series – including the upcoming Power: Origins and Power: Legacy — for Starz. Additional Lionsgate series Hollin has shepherded include The Recruit and Dear White People for Netflix, Mythic Quest and Acapulco for Apple TV, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for NBC, and Home Economics for ABC. Hollin joined Lionsgate in 2018 and was promoted to executive vp of television and head of current programming a year later. Bellisario, after boarding Lionsgate in 2014, has overseen TV casting, including for hit series like The Hunting Wives, The Studio, Ghosts, Acapulco and Love and Death.