Lightworkers Media

Lightworkers Media is an American media and film-production company associated with faith-oriented entertainment. It was established by television producer Mark Burnett and actor, producer, and executive Roma Downey, who are also married. The company developed projects centered on biblical narratives, religious history, inspirational themes, and family-oriented storytelling for television and film. The company’s early profile was defined by The Bible, a television miniseries produced for the History channel. The project was Lightworkers Media’s first production involving Burnett and Downey as a producing team and became the company’s most visible television success. Its premiere in early 2013 attracted 13.1 million viewers, described in contemporary reporting as the largest cable television audience of the year to that point. The finale reached 11.7 million total viewers. The miniseries also performed strongly in home-video sales, moving 525,000 units in its first week and becoming the best-selling television miniseries at that time. Across later airings, the program was reported to have reached more than 95 million viewers. Following The Bible, Lightworkers Media expanded its television work through projects for several major American networks. Its productions included A.D. The Bible Continues for NBC, a continuation focused on the period following the events depicted in The Bible; The Dovekeepers for CBS, based on Alice Hoffman’s novel; Women of the Bible for Lifetime; and Answered Prayers for TLC. The company also participated in feature-film production, with credits including Son of God, Ben-Hur, Little Boy, Woodlawn, and On a Wing and a Prayer. These projects placed the company across scripted television, miniseries, historical drama, religious programming, and inspirational family film. Lightworkers Media’s corporate structure changed substantially during the 2010s. It was initially formed with a partial stake held by Hearst Corporation, through Hearst’s interest in Burnett’s One Three Media. In September 2014, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired a 55 percent stake in both Lightworkers Media and One Three Media. MGM combined the businesses within United Artists Media Group, a new television-production unit led by Burnett as chief executive. In December 2015, MGM announced that it had acquired the remaining interests in United Artists Media Group through a transaction involving cash and stock. Burnett subsequently became chief executive of MGM Television, while Roma Khanna departed the presidency of that division. The ownership transition did not eliminate all of the founders’ involvement in a planned faith-oriented television venture. MGM announced Light TV in November 2016, with a launch planned for December on thirteen Fox television stations; Hearst, Burnett, and Downey retained interests in the channel. Lightworkers Media is now identified as being owned by Amazon MGM Studios, following Amazon’s ownership of MGM. The company’s public identity remains connected to independently developed Christian and inspirational entertainment, while its corporate context is that of a studio brand within a larger entertainment group.

Lightworkers Media was created by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey as a production company focused on Christian, biblical, and inspirational entertainment. The company was formed with a partial investment from Hearst Corporation, whose position was connected to Hearst’s stake in Burnett’s One Three Media. This arrangement placed Lightworkers within a broader production-business structure while allowing Burnett and Downey to develop projects reflecting their interest in faith-based storytelling. The company’s first major production was The Bible, a miniseries made for the History channel and premiered in early 2013. It was produced by Burnett and Downey with Richard Bedser and History executives Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs also credited as executive producers. The program became a major audience and home-video success. Its first episode attracted 13.1 million viewers, while the finale drew 11.7 million total viewers. Subsequent broadcasts expanded the reported cumulative audience to more than 95 million viewers. The home-video release sold 525,000 units in its first week, making it the top-selling television miniseries at that time. After The Bible, Lightworkers Media produced a range of television projects for U.S. broadcasters. A.D. The Bible Continues aired on NBC and continued the biblical narrative after the events of The Bible. The company also produced The Dovekeepers for CBS, based on Alice Hoffman’s novel, as well as Women of the Bible for Lifetime and Answered Prayers for TLC. These projects demonstrated a model that combined religious subject matter with conventional network and cable television formats. Lightworkers Media also moved into feature films. Its credited productions included Son of God, Little Boy, Woodlawn, Ben-Hur, and On a Wing and a Prayer. The titles covered biblical drama, historical subjects, sports-related inspirational storytelling, and family adventure, reinforcing the company’s emphasis on faith, perseverance, and broadly accessible inspirational themes. A significant corporate transition began in September 2014, when MGM acquired a 55 percent stake in Lightworkers Media and One Three Media. MGM consolidated the companies into United Artists Media Group, a new television-production unit with Burnett as chief executive. In December 2015, MGM announced that it had bought the remaining interests in United Artists Media Group in a transaction combining cash and stock. Burnett was appointed chief executive of MGM Television, replacing outgoing president Roma Khanna. The founders and Hearst retained interests connected with a planned television channel even after MGM’s acquisitions. On November 16, 2016, MGM announced Light TV, with a planned December launch on thirteen Fox television stations. Light TV represented an extension of the faith-oriented programming strategy associated with Lightworkers Media. The company is now described as owned by Amazon MGM Studios, placing the brand within the entertainment assets associated with Amazon’s ownership of MGM. Publicly documented information continues to associate Lightworkers Media primarily with biblical, Christian, and inspirational television and film production.

• 2016

  Light TV is announced

  [1]Lightworkers Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  MGM announced Light TV, a planned faith-oriented television service intended for distribution through thirteen Fox television stations.

• 2015

  MGM buys the remaining UAMG interests

  [1]Lightworkers Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  MGM announced the acquisition of the remaining interests in United Artists Media Group through a cash-and-stock deal.

• 2014

  MGM takes a majority stake

  [1]Lightworkers Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  MGM acquired a 55 percent stake in Lightworkers Media and One Three Media and combined them within United Artists Media Group.

• 2013

  The Bible premieres on History

  [1]Lightworkers Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Lightworkers Media’s early production The Bible premiered on the History channel and became a major cable television and home-video success.

Faith-oriented and inspirational entertainment producer serving television and feature-film audiences through biblical stories, religious history, and family-focused narratives.

• Television miniseries · 2013

  The Bible

  The Bible is a History channel miniseries and the first major project produced by the Burnett-Downey team through Lightworkers Media. It presents stories from the Bible in a serialized television format. The program became the company’s signature production, attracting 13.1 million viewers for its premiere and 11.7 million for its finale. Its home-video release also achieved unusually strong sales for a television miniseries.

• Television drama

  A.D. The Bible Continues

  A.D. The Bible Continues is an NBC television production that follows the biblical narrative after the events covered in The Bible. It extended Lightworkers Media’s approach from a self-contained miniseries into a continuing scripted historical and religious drama.

• Television miniseries

  The Dovekeepers

  The Dovekeepers is a CBS production based on Alice Hoffman’s novel. The project uses a historical and religious setting and reflects Lightworkers Media’s focus on faith-related stories adapted for mainstream television.

• Television programming

  Women of the Bible

  Women of the Bible is a Lifetime production centered on female figures from biblical history. It forms part of the company’s nonfiction or historical faith-oriented television output.

• Television programming

  Answered Prayers

  Answered Prayers is a television project produced for TLC. Its subject matter fits the company’s broader interest in religious and inspirational stories presented for general audiences.

• Feature film

  Son of God

  Son of God is a feature-film production associated with Lightworkers Media and expands the biblical storytelling approach established by The Bible into a theatrical film format.

• Feature film

  Ben-Hur

  Ben-Hur is a feature-film production credited to Lightworkers Media. The film draws on a well-known religious and historical narrative and aligns with the company’s interest in large-scale faith-related storytelling.

• Feature film

  Little Boy

  Little Boy is an inspirational feature-film production associated with Lightworkers Media. It belongs to the company’s family-oriented and faith-adjacent film work.

• Feature film

  Woodlawn

  Woodlawn is a feature film produced by Lightworkers Media and built around inspirational themes. It represents the company’s expansion beyond biblical adaptations into contemporary or historically grounded stories of faith and community.

• Feature film

  On a Wing and a Prayer

  On a Wing and a Prayer is a feature-film production associated with Lightworkers Media. Its inclusion in the company’s filmography reflects the brand’s continued connection with family-friendly and inspirational entertainment.

• 2016

  MGM announces Light TVStrategy

  Background

  The corporate transition left a planned faith-oriented television service as a continuing opportunity associated with the founders and their partners.

  Action taken

  MGM announced Light TV, with a planned launch on thirteen Fox television stations.

  Aftermath

  The announcement extended the distribution strategy for faith-oriented programming connected with the Lightworkers Media brand.

  Source

• 2015

  MGM purchases the remaining UAMG interestsM&A

  Background

  After acquiring a majority stake the previous year, MGM moved to consolidate ownership of United Artists Media Group.

  Action taken

  MGM announced a cash-and-stock acquisition of the remaining interests in United Artists Media Group.

  Aftermath

  Burnett became chief executive of MGM Television, and Roma Khanna left the presidency of that division.

  Source

• 2014

  MGM acquires a majority stake in Lightworkers MediaM&A

  Background

  Lightworkers Media operated alongside One Three Media, with Hearst holding a partial interest connected to Burnett’s production business.

  Action taken

  MGM purchased a 55 percent stake in Lightworkers Media and One Three Media and consolidated the companies into United Artists Media Group.

  Aftermath

  Mark Burnett became chief executive of United Artists Media Group, while Lightworkers Media’s operations became part of MGM’s television-production structure.

  Source

1. 1Lightworkers Mediaen.wikipedia.org