Sony Pictures Television locks in a major unscripted play with the acquisition of a majority stake in 32 Flavors, the production company behind Bravo's hit franchises "Vanderpump Rules" and "The Valley." Alex Baskin, the company's founder and operator, established 32 Flavors in 2023 after departing Evolution Media, where he served as President.
The deal represents Sony's strategic push into prestige unscripted content at a moment when the genre drives real viewership for cable and streaming platforms. "Vanderpump Rules" remains Bravo's tentpole series, while its spin-off "The Valley" launched last year with strong ratings, capitalizing on the original show's cultural footprint. Both franchises deliver consistent audience engagement and merchandising potential, making Baskin's production operation an attractive asset.
Baskin's exit from Evolution Media to launch his own company positioned him as an independent power player in unscripted television. The majority stake acquisition signals Sony's confidence in both Baskin's track record and the company's pipeline. Rather than fold 32 Flavors into Sony's existing operations, the structure preserves Baskin's creative autonomy while giving him resources and distribution reach across Sony's studio ecosystem and international markets.
This move fits Sony's broader strategy to expand its unscripted footprint beyond its existing reality slate. The studio has ramped up development in competition formats and lifestyle programming, but the "Vanderpump Rules" universe offers something different: deeply serialized character-driven narratives with loyal fanbases. The franchise's success hinges on its cast chemistry and interpersonal drama, elements Baskin has proven adept at shepherding across multiple installments.
For Bravo, the move keeps Sony in the driver's seat for producing content that defines the network's identity. "