News round-up: Korea’s LG U+ picks up ‘Tiny Desk’; Prime Video India & BBC Studios partner; Saffronic names CEO

Gordon Synn

Korea’s LG U+ picks up ‘Tiny Desk’

LG U+ in South Korea is launching Tiny Desk Korea, the first-ever international TV format version of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.

Up to 52 episodes will be produced, released weekly, and in the same style as the original US series. The show, which spotlights emerging and established artists, will debut next month.

This is the first format licensing deal for both NPR and LG U+, and the deal was brought together in part by Korean format agency Something Special, who will also serve to develop and expand the Tiny Desk Korea brand.

“We are proud to work with LG U+ and Something Special to extend the beloved brand of Tiny Desk Concert to new audiences and new formats–and to keep evolving creatively and inclusively for the benefit of our audiences,” said Gordon Synn, senior director of business partnerships for NPR.

Prime Video India & BBC Studios partner

Prime Video has struck a deal with BBC Studios to expand its British content offering in India.

The Amazon-owned streamer has launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in the country, carrying British dramas, comedy, documentaries, factual shows, entertainment to lifestyle programming and children’s shows.

Titles include crime series Six Four, political thriller The Diplomat and comedy-drama Chivalry.

Stanley Fernandes, VP of distribution, BBC Studios, South Asia, said: “These brands will offer a curated, multi-genre content line-up, offering the best of British entertainment to the discerning Indian audience.”

Saffronic names CEO

India-based animation and VFX studio Saffronic has appointed Skyler Mattson as its first CEO.

Mattson, the former president of global creative and design agency WongDoody, will be responsible for driving company growth across the media, entertainment, video games, advertising, and creative sector worldwide.

Saffronic, which has worked on shows including Gabby’s Dollhouse, Dragons: The Nine Realms and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, was founded in 2022 by Tim Sarnoff and Vince Pizzica, to whom Mattson will report.