• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, February 1, 2016

High-end magazine publisher Condé Nast is doubling down on documentaries and reality programming with the creation of a new unscripted television production unit, CNE Studios, within its Condé Nast Entertainment division.

Led by producer and director Al Edgington, serving as EVP, his previous experience includes producing the Emmy-winning reality series “The Amazing Race.” CNE Studios will build on the momentum established by CNE’s five unscripted TV programs already in production or on the air, with an eye to new programming across channels including film, TV, and digital video.

CNE’s current roster of unscripted and reality programming includes “Fashion Fund,” a design competition overseen by Vogue’s iconic editor Anna Wintour, available on Amazon; “The New Yorker Presents,” a documentary series based on the magazine’s most engaging long-form journalism, also on Amazon; and “Vanity Fair Confidential,” a documentary series expanding on some of the magazine’s most famous true crime investigative journalism, airing on Investigation Discovery.

The launch of CNE Studios is just the most recent move by magazine publishers looking to tap into the surge in cross-channel video consumption.

A+E Networks and Vice Media are preparing to roll out out a new Vice TV channel, Viceland. The partners are rebranding A+E’s H2 channel into the new "Viceland," which will launch February 29 in about 70 million homes. Vice also has a deal with HBO to produce a half-hour newscast.

Last year, Time Inc. launched a number of new series created under various brands, including People, Entertainment Weekly, Time and Sports Illustrated. The new programs include “The Bullseye,” a spinoff from Entertainment Weekly’s last page feature, and “Sports Illustrated Films,” for long-form documentaries.

In December, Time said viewers will be able to watch original video on Web sites controlled by Hulu, Yahoo, and Zealot Networks, through new distribution agreements.

In November, Wired magazine revealed it is partnering with RadicalMedia to produce a new series for Netflix devoted to design. Also last year, TEN The Enthusiast Network’s Motor Trend launched its OnDemand subscription video service, with over 1,000 hours of original automotive programming.