Scott Freeman

Scott Freeman is an experienced and highly-respected television production and development executive and Emmy-winning executive producer in the unscripted/reality/international format arenas. Currently consulting with various reality and format producers, he is most widely known in the industry as a 25+ year veteran of reality television and media powerhouse Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) - starting out as their first full-time staffer as Manager of Development, and graduating to EVP titles in Original Programming, Development, and International.

At BMP, Freeman won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Program in 2019 as an Executive Producer of Valerie's Home Cooking on the Food Network (also nominated in 2018). Other EP credits include 22 seasons of the long-running MTV hit series The Challenge (aka The Real World/Road Rules Challenge) and its many aftershows and casting/preview specials; The Challenge: Champs vs Pros, The Challenge: Champs vs Stars, Spring Break Challenge, The Challenge: CT's Getting Married, The Real World Awards Batch, and the documentary Coming Out (all for MTV); Stars in Danger: The High Dive (FOX); Saddle Ranch (VH1); Disney TRYathlon (Disney XD); Motor City Masters (truTV), and Wealth Hunters (TLC). Freeman was also an Executive Producer for Pedro - an independent film that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2008 and aired simultaneously on MTV, VH1, and Logo.

BMP's signature, groundbreaking, iconic and often network-defining projects that were developed and produced under Freeman's watch – in addition to those he also executive produced – include: The Simple Life (Fox/E!); Starting Over (NBC Universal syndication); Making the Band (ABC/MTV); The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best, Love Cruise, and Girl Next Door: the Search for a Playboy Centerfold (all for FOX); America's Psychic Challenge (Lifetime); Dr. Steve-O (USA); The Bad Girls Club, Love Games (Oxygen); Supreme Court of Comedy (DIRECTV); and the first reality feature film, The Real Cancun.

Also at BMP, Freeman spearheaded the selling and acquiring of international formats through his relationships with top global companies, producers, distributers, and agencies, at annual international television markets (MIPCOM/MIPTV) and numerous pitches and format presentations in London before and after BMP was acquired by Banijay Group in 2010. Added to these duties, as EVP, International, Freeman also served as a key liaison between BMP and Banijay's Paris-based central team, its London-based distribution arm, and its roster of production companies around the world in the flow of both Banijay Group and BMP ideas and formats in and out of the US.

Before BMP, Freeman worked in the TV syndication/variety/cable departments of the William Morris Agency with agents Mark Itkin and Dick Howard; and as a segment producer/talent coordinator for television specials, series, pilots, telethons, and live events – including the Ross Shafer-hosted-version of Match Game for ABC – in the U.S. and Scandinavia. Freeman earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University and traveled as a student/singer/dancer with the international youth program, Up With People.

Freeman is a proud to serve as co-Governor of the Reality Programming Peer Group – and on the Board of Governors – for the Television Academy after serving 3 years on the Reality Programming Peer Group Executive Committee where he co-chaired several sub-committees and co-produced many live/virtual events. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Los Angeles-based theatre company Playwrights' Arena.

updated 1.13.22