Matt Forde


BBC Studios names Netflix alum to head up LA production arm

BBC Studios (BBCS) has appointed former Netflix exec Rob Smith as general manager of its production business in LA. His remit includes overseeing all creative and business responsibilities for the production arm in LA, as well as exploring new opportunities for the division and collaborating with BBCS’s UK operations on format initiatives. He takes up […]

BBC Studios’ Keelan exits amid Content Partnerships rejig

BBC Studios’ scripted portfolio director Liam Keelan is exiting the business as the distributor once again restructures its exec ranks. The exec’s departure comes six months after Mark Linsey was made chief creative officer of BBC Studios, in charge of its Content Partnerships team and portfolio of production relationships. Keelan joined BBC Studios, previously called […]

Amazon to witness BBC Worldwide’s Incident

Amazon Prime Video has acquired exclusive US rights to Australian drama The Kettering Incident. The series will be made available to subs on September 30 following an agreement between Amazon and BBC Worldwide North America. The series, shot in Tasmania, tells the story of a female doctor who returns to her home town 15 years […]

UKTV gets Unspun with political comedy

British multichannel broadcaster UKTV has commissioned a 6x60mins political comedy for its Dave network. Unspun with Matt Forde is billed as an “up-to-date, fearless weekly satirical show” that features reactions to the news agenda. “I’m simultaneously horrified and entertained by the state of British politics so I can’t wait to start making Unspun,” said Forde, […]

Forde upped as Tranter exits BBC Worldwide Prods

Matt Forde (below) has been promoted at BBC Worldwide North America after the company confirmed the departure of UK-bound Jane Tranter. Julie Gardner is also leaving BBCWW North America’s BBCWW Productions and subsidiary Adjacent Productions to work with Tranter (below right) on a new independent production company. As a result of the departures, executive VP, […]

PBS, BBC in ‘ambitious’ factual partnership

Pubcasters from both sides of the Atlantic Sea have com together to coproduce a slate of “ambitious factual specials”, including a new Sir David Attenborough title. The coproduction agreement will America’s BBC and the UK’s BBC, plus the latter’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, create between eight and ten programming special comprising around 20 hours a […]

Logo pre-buys Russell T. Davies dramas

US lesbian and gay-skewed channel Logo has pre-bought a pair of sexuality-themed dramas from Queer as Folk writer Russell T. Davies. Cucumber and Banana are interlinked drama series that UK broadcaster Channel 4 commissioned earlier this year from StudioCanal-owned producer Red Production Company. Logo has signed up, officially as a coproducer, though the shows have […]

DirecTV adds BBC’s Uncle to slate

US cable operator DirecTV has acquired Uncle, the BBC Three comedy. The show will go out on DirecTV’s Audience Network on Wednesdays from October 14 following a deal with BBC Worldwide North America. The acquisition comes after DirecTV unveiled its first original comedy series, Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight. “We recently announced our first […]

Miami Five-O: NATPE 2013

Miami Beach-based programme market NATPE celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. And all the indications are that it is in rude health. A record numbers of buyers, a sold out sign over the exhibition floor and a big-name conference programme are just a few of the headlines that should make Miami Five-0 a very happy […]