Amy Savitsky & Others Out As A+E Networks Layoffs Hit Lifetime & History Programming Teams

Peter White
·2 min read

EXCLUSIVE: A+E Networks is undergoing a round of layoffs today that has seen cuts across Lifetime and History’s programming teams.

Deadline understands that Amy Savitsky, SVP Unscripted Development and Programming at Lifetime, as well as VPs Kim Chessler and Cat Rodriguez are out as part of the cuts.

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There also are cuts across History and A&E with Zach Behr, VP Unscripted Programming, History, and A&E’s Peter Tarshis, who has worked for the company for over 30 years, also departing.

It comes on the same day that Paramount began laying off around 15% of its staff, a move that saw the shuttering of Paramount TV Studios.

“This is like Red Wedding week for television,” one source told Deadline.

Several divisions across A+E Networks are affected, but it’s not clear how many people are impacted.

“We’re enormously grateful to the contributions of the employees who are departing our company today,” an A+E spokesman told Deadline.

Savitsky has been in her current role for less than two years; she previously was in a similar role at History. At History since November 2019, Savitsky oversaw series such as The Proof Is Out There and The Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters. Before that she was at A&E, overseeing Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole.

Chessler has been at Lifetime for 14 years, having joined in 2010. She oversaw development and prodcution on series including Dance Moms as well as its numerous spinoffs and shows such as docuseries Preachers’ Daughters and Atlanta Plastic. Before joining A+E Networks, she was at Oxygen for 10 years.

Rodriguez joined Lifetime in 2019 and oversaw shows including Married At First Sight, Lifetime’s highest-rated show for the last four years, Supernanny, Little Women: Atlanta and Marrying Millions. She previously produced LA Ink with Kat Von D, before producing The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Behr, who has been with the company since 2011, has overseen series such as Pawn Stars, Swamp People, Top Gear and Counting Cars and also developed its hit survival format Alone. He previously was at MTV.

Tarshis has exec produced a number of series such as Cold Case Files, American Justice, The First 48, Alaska PD and The Toe Bro.

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