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Portrait of Barry Poznick
Barry Poznick — Founder & Executive Producer

Barry Poznick is a television producer and creative executive whose work has helped shape some of the biggest hits in unscripted television.

Recognition

0+Shows Currently in Production
0+Countries Aired
$5B+Cumulative Budgets Entrusted
1B+Cumulative Viewers

Career Timeline

A life in unscripted.

Poznick brings more than 25 years of experience in the television industry to Idea Maze Entertainment. He spent the last decade as President of MGM Alternative Television, where he led the development and production of unscripted content for every major network and streaming platform.

Under his leadership, MGM produced thousands of hours of popular, and award-winning series, including The Voice (NBC), Survivor (CBS), Shark Tank (ABC), and American Gladiators (Prime Video) along with The Real Housewives of Orange County, Beverly Hills, and Rhode Island (Bravo). He also oversaw several divisions within MGM, including Evolution Media, Big Fish Entertainment, the documentary division, and the global formats team. As part of MGM’s Office of the CEO, he contributed to the strategic vision and growth of the company.

Poznick has been featured on numerous industry lists, starting with The Hollywood Reporter’s Reality Power List (2010), and more recently, Variety’s Reality TV Power Players (2023) and Top 45 Reality TV Producers (2024).

Prior to joining MGM, Poznick founded ZOO Productionsin 1994 and built it into a prolific independent production company, which was acquired by UK’s All3Media in 2008, and he exited in 2013.

He’s known for leading with laughter and has especially enjoyed producing shows with some of the greatest comedic talent of our time, including Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, Chelsea Handler, Kevin Hart, Ken Jeong, and many more.

He is passionate about fostering curiosity, compassion, and courage in the industry and beyond, and supports various causes and organizations, such as Starts with Us / Builders and American Corporate Partners.

Barry and Claudia Poznick at the Emmy Awards
With Claudia at the Emmys

In 2026, Poznick founded Idea Maze Entertainment — a production and advisory company developing original formats, counseling networks and studios on unscripted strategy, and bringing 25+ years of lessons to the keynote stage.

Content London 2025A Conversation with Barry Poznick

Milestones

Thirty-five years, one genre.

  1. Sally Jessy Raphael

    Begins his television career on one of the defining syndicated daytime talk shows of the era — the early education in what moves an audience.

  2. The Joan Rivers Show

    Segment producer on Joan Rivers' Emmy-winning daytime talk show — the start of a decades-long creative relationship.

  3. Founded ZOO Productions

    Co-founded the independent production company that produced The Blame Game (MTV), Girls Behaving Badly (Oxygen, launched Chelsea Handler), and Speeders (Court TV).

  4. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

    Co-created with Mark Burnett. Drew the largest game-show premiere audience in over a decade when it launched on FOX. Licensed across 55+ international territories.

  5. All3Media Acquires ZOO

    ZOO becomes All3Media's first U.S. subsidiary. Poznick stays on through the integration.

  6. Founded Barracuda Television with Electus

    Launched a premium unscripted banner in partnership with Electus after exiting All3Media.

  7. Joins MGM as President, Unscripted Television

    Mark Burnett's first major hire as MGM TV chief. Reports directly to Burnett; inherits the Survivor, Shark Tank, and Real Housewives franchises.

  8. Promoted to President, Unscripted & Alternative

    Scope expands to documentaries, sports, true crime, kids, and podcasts. Joins MGM's Office of the CEO.

  9. General Manager of Unscripted at Amazon MGM

    Stays on through the Amazon-MGM close, overseeing a global slate across The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, Real Housewives, American Gladiators, and 007: Road to a Million.

  10. Founded Idea Maze Entertainment

    Launched a prestige unscripted production and advisory company — developing original formats, counseling networks and studios, and bringing 25+ years of lessons to the keynote stage.

In the Press

Featured in the trades.

Barry Poznick recalls his meeting with Barbara Broccoli over 007: Road to a Million.

Deadline, December 2025

Hear Barry live, or explore how he advises.