Participant Media


TiTAN Platform launches ‘unifying’ content hub in US

TiTAN Platform, a smart content and device firm led in the US by former Endemol Shine executive Adrian Sexton, has launched a transactional content platform in the US for the first time, securing deals with Vubiquity and TV4 Entertainment in the process. The TiTAN Play service allows content owners and creators to upload SVOD channels […]

Netflix orders Central Park Five drama

Subscription VOD service Netflix has ordered a five-part drama based on the true story of the Central Park Five. The historic legal cases centres on five US Hispanic and black New York City men, who as teenagers were convicted of the rape of a white woman and served years in prison before their convictions were […]

Turner hires Kogan from Participant

Turner has recruited Karina Kogan as senior VP of digital media. She will run the digital team at Turner’s TBS and TNT, as well as the content marketing unit at the US cable nets. Kogan joins from US prodco Participant Media and will report to Michael Engleman, executive vice president of entertainment marketing and brand […]

Alibaba buys into Spielberg JV prodco

The entertainment arm of Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group has acquired a minority stake in Amblin Partners, the joint venture prodco in which Steven Spielberg and Entertainment One are partners. Alibaba Pictures will coproduce, market and distribute feature films as part of the agreement, and gets a seat on the Amblin Partners board. Film director Spielberg […]

Participant shuts down Pivot in restructure

Participant Media has shut down its millennials-focused US cable channel Pivot after three years after an “overall re-evaluation of the business”. Instead of running a linear network, Participant plans to direct its entertainment investments in content creation and social impact activities, it said in a statement today. This comes after a company evaluation that followed […]

MIPCOM confirms US Media Masterminds

Reed Midem has confirmed execs from Disney, Participant Media and STX Entertainment as keynote speakers at this year’s MIPCOM. Disney’s Ben Sherwood (above left), co-chair, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney-ABC Television Group, will represent the Mouse House. Sherwood replaced Anne Sweeney, when the long-serving exec left Disney in 2014. From US producer and cable channel […]

Hulu brings Malala to US streaming

US on-demand platform Hulu has acquired exclusive streaming rights to He Named Me Malala, the new David Guggenheim documentary. The doc will debut on the broadcaster-backed service’s subscription tier following its debut on National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Mundo this week. He Named Me Malala is an intimate portrait of girls’ education campaigner Malala […]

Amblin Partners boss extends contract

Steven Spielberg’s new US content company, Amblin Partners, has extended CEO Michael Wright’s contract “for multiple years into the future”. This comes after Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One united to create film- and TV-focused Amblin Partners in December last year. Wright was at that time named CEO, having joined DreamWorks […]

Spielberg, eOne, Participant create Amblin Partners

Steven Spielberg, Entertainment One, Participant Media and Reliance Group have come together to create a content group, Amblin Partners. The new company will use director Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios, Amblin Television and Participant brands to create content for a wide range of audiences in TV and film. Under the Dome producer Amblin Television will become a […]

Participant completes CEO hunt

US cable channel owner Participant Media has appointed former studio executive David Linde to fill its vacant CEO spot. The move comes six months after Jim Berk resigned from the chief executive role following a strategic review of the business, which owns cable channel Pivot. Linde joins from Lava Bear Films, a production company he […]