Features


Jill Offman: Why we surf for mirth

What’s the last thing you liked on Facebook, retweeted or even – to the shame of your teenage relatives – loved on Instagram? I’ll bet you a pair of Ashton Kutcher’s underpants it was something funny. Whether it’s the latest grumpy cat video, a delusional Benedict Cumberbatch-lookalike or Jon Stewart’s latest sideswipe on The Daily […]

YouTube gets original

With YouTube channels and their content providers toasted as the talk of MIPTV last week, multichannel operators, TV producers and analysts tell Jesse Whittock why original content is the key to monetising the emerging YouTube ecosystem. Question: What do a hyperactive Swedish video gamer, a geeky American comic duo and  DJ Avicii have in common? […]

MIPTV 2014: Monster to sell Pip Ahoy! in Cannes

Ireland’s Monster Entertainment will launch 52x11mins animated toon Pip Ahoy! at MIPTV. The preschooler comes from CHF Entertainment, which is the production venture from the UK animation execs behind the legendary Cosgrove Hall Films (Danger Mouse, Count Duckula). Pip Ahoy! has scored a commission from UK broadcaster Channel 5 and will launch on its kids […]

MIPTV2014: All3Media sells Oz dramas ahead of Cannes launches

All3Media International has sealed deals for World War One period drama Anzac Girls ahead of launching the series internationally at MIPTV next week, TBI has learned. The costume drama has been acquired by Brazilian broadcast giant Globo and Danish free-to-air broadcaster TV2 ahead of the market. The drama, which had a premiere screening at Australia […]

MIPTV 2014: ITV Choice follows Harry’s South Pole Heroes

ITV Choice has acquired 2x60mins doc Harry’s South Pole Heroes from Twofour Rights ahead of MIPTV. The ITV Studios Global Entertainment-operated channel has picked up the doc, in which Britain’s Prince Harry joins teams of wounded servicemen and women on a South Pole trek, for broadcast in more than 50 territories across Asia and the […]

MIPTV 2014: PBS shows big data’s Human Face

PBS International is shopping The Human Face of Big Data, which focuses on the human side of the global information story. PBS’s sales arm has acquired worldwide rights to the doc, and will launch it at MIPTV. “The way our data is collected and used has become a topic of international debate and The Human […]

MIPTV 2014: Cineflix hires North America EVP

Cineflix Media has hired Brandon Killion to become its executive VP, programming and development, North America. Killion was previously at Duck Dynasty producer Gurney Productions and has also worked at Original Productions. He will be based in LA and report to Cineflix Media founders and co-CEOs, Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck. Killion will work closely […]

MIPTV 2014: TVF tackles Russian politics

TVF International has acquired international sales rights to The Term, a hard-hitting doc told from inside Russia’s opposition movement. Filmed over five years by directors Pavel Kostomarov, Alexandr Rastorguev and Aleksei Pivovarov, the doc charts the rise of anti-corruption blogger Aleksei Navalny, who has become a major opponent of President Vladimir Putin and his policies. […]

MIPTV 2014: Star China hires Rodrigue for int’nl formats push

Entertainment and broadcasting group Star China Media has hired Distraction Formats founder Michel Rodrigue to handle international programming projects. Rodrigue (left), who is now CEO of The Formats People, will work with Star and media communications expert MJ Sorenson to work on international formats. “We are delighted to collaborate with Michel, whose extensive international formats […]

MIPTV2014: Lituchy’s NMV on scripted format drive in Cannes

Todd Lituchy’s content company New Media Vision will be on a scripted format drive at MIPTV, having already successfully shopped one if its Spanish dramas into the US. The Mysteries of Laura was bought by Warner Bros., which is making a US pilot starring Will & Grace star Debra Messing for broadcast net NBC. Greg […]