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ITV America Inks Development Deal With Emmy-Winning NBA Star Kenny Smith

Deadline

by: Dominic Patten

With tonight’s NBA Playoffs Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals about to begin between the reigning champions Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, Kenny Smith is part of the team fronting TNT’s coverage of the match-up. But today the two-time NBA champ and his wife and producing partner, Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith dunked a new deal – this one with ITV America.

The multi-year exclusive development deal could see the duo individually or together fronting one or more of the wide-ranging projects β€œif the opportunity presents itself,” I’m told. As a new label under ITV America, the couple’s Smith Entertainment will work up and execute lifestyle, reality, lifestyle, docuseries, competition shows for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms – and there could be some sports in there too for the Emmy winning Inside The NBA on TNT co-host and former Houston Rocket.

β€œKenny and Gwendolyn are a modern-day power couple with incredible ideas and plans to create groundbreaking programming,” said ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery on Wednesday. β€œWe’re excited to collaborate with them in this creative partnership and to bring their great taste and sensibilities to multiple platforms.”

The NBA on TNT co-host and the long time The Price Is Right model produced and appeared together in 2015 in TBS’s six-episode reality show Meet The Smiths.

β€œWorking with Brent, a great trailblazer in the industry, makes us extremely excited for this partnership,” Smith added of this new deal. β€œITV America allows Gwendolyn and I, along with our company, an unbelievable producing platform. It gives us an incredible home for our one-of-a-kind content.”

EVP, Business Development & International, Ed Simpson, and ITV Entertainment President David Eilenberg put the deal together for ITV America. The Smiths’ company is represented Maury Gostfrand at Vision Sports.