Atlantic Productions


Show of the week: The Coronation

For the first time the Queen discusses her Coronation, which took place 65 years ago this year, in a special by Atlantic Productions and FremantleMedia International (FMI). “What we get to see is a Queen who is highly knowledgeable, but who also has a great sense of humour and wit,” says Anthony Geffen, CEO of […]

We’re going on a millennials hunt

With Planet Earth II beating reality TV programmes to audiences – including those crucial, lucrative millennials – Emily Bright talks to natural history documentary producers and channels about how they’re attracting new audiences The BBC’s seminal natural history documentary Planet Earth II beat The X Factor in the UK Christmas ratings stake last year, even […]

Ex-Darlow Smithson, Atlantic execs join UK prodco

Former Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) senior exec Ulla Streib Atlantic Productions’ Ruth Roberts are joining at UK-based producer Talesmith. Streib has been named COO, having joined the factual-focused prodco in a consulting capacity in January 2016. She previously spent 16 years as Endemol Shine Group-owned DSP as part of its senior management team. More recently, […]

BBC embarks on Mission Galapagos

BBC One has commissioned a major natural history series following a team of international scientists working on new discoveries is the luscious Galapagos Islands. Mission Galapagos will comprise three hour-long episodes, with prolific wildlife prodco Atlantic Productions coproducing along with Alucia Productions. Liz Bonnin will present the series. BBC Worldwide, which shops Planet Earth II […]

Atlantic adds to UK team

Independent producer Atlantic has hired two new execs and promoted another. Ian Syder (left) has joined the British prodco as head of production and Emily Smith (below right) as director of marketing, while Mike Davis has been upped to associate creative director. Syder started out in unscripted, working on Big Brother and Deal or No […]

David Attenborough series goes global

David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef has landed in 180 territories following natural history broadcaster Attenborough’s 90th birthday. Distributor Entertainment One Television has sold the Atlantic Productions-produced show to Discovery Networks in Latin America, Germany, Portugal; the Netherlands, Spain and Italy; LeTV in China; Atresmedia in Spain; IBA in Israel; BBC Worldwide in Asia and pan-Africa; […]

10 MIPTV takeaways: #2 VR now a reality?

The television content business might be a sucker for a new medium to explore, but virtual reality programming might just be the real thing. MIPTV takeaways: #1 no Rising Star, but Roots established MIPTV takeaways: #2 VR now a reality? MIPTV takeaways: #3 Vivendi puts Europe in the spotlight MIPTV takeaways: #4 eclectic talent on the Croisette MIPTV takeaways: […]

MIPTV unveils 4K Ultra HD line-up

MIPTV has announced details of an “extensive” 4K, Ultra High Definition programme at the event next month. The UHD line-up will include 12 conference sessions and a keynote speech by Sony Pictures Entertainment’s senior vice-president of technology, Bill Baggelaar. There will also be a 4K world premiere screening of the first episode of NHK’s new […]

Blue chip to new chip: natural history with bite

Stewart Clarke speaks to commissioners, producers, distributors and digital pioneers about their efforts to reimagine the natural history genre. Alastair Fothergill is the embodiment of blue-chip, making landmark series for the BBC and films for Disney Nature, but he is now seeking to reinvent the genre, out of necessity as much as anything. “When I […]

MIPTV Hot Pick – Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef

Entertainment One has moved into high-end, big-budget blue-chip factual with veteran British naturalist and presenter David Attenborough’s latest effort. David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef came to the transatlantic producer-distributor via Attenborough’s regular television partner, Atlantic Productions, whose CEO Anthony Geffen has developed a strong relationship with eOne’s manager, factual acquisitions, Justina Hemperek. The latter had […]