News


Olsen sisters make date with Nick

US kids channel Nickelodeon has acquired the library of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, a deal with Dualstar Entertainment Group spanning a decade of programming. The first title to debut will be So Little Time, which debuts on Monday, April 27 at 7.30pm (ET/PT). Other titles rolling out on Nick platforms later this year includes animated […]

BET poaches Fox Searchlight’s Mashariki

BET Networks has poached Fox Searchlight programmer Zola Mashariki to work with programming president Stephen Hill. Mashariki will be executive VP and head of original programming at the Viacom cable channel overseeing scripted and unscripted programming and development and casting. She will report to Hill, who was promoted to president of programming last year after […]

Downton Abbey constructed on Amazon

Amazon Prime Instant Video in the UK has acquired exclusive streaming rights to Downton Abbey, Turn and The Red Road among others. Seasons 1-4 of period drama Downton have been taken from NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, while seasons 1-2 of spy drama Turn, gritty cop drama The Red Road and personal computer boom drama Halt […]

Tellem takes seat at Interlude

Former Xbox Entertainment Studios president Nancy Tellem has resurfaced as executive chairman of LA-based media tech company Interlude. The former CBS Entertainment chief left Xbox last year after the decision to axe its original programming division as part of wide-spread cuts at the game console manufacturer’s parent, software giant Microsoft. At five-year-old Interlude, which creates […]

Leftfield launches OTT-focused prodco

US unscripted group Leftfield Entertainment has launched a production subsidiary that will focus on “smart and authentic” programming for TV channels and OTT platforms. Former Optomen Television exec Stephanie Angelides will lead Riot Creative as president. The prodco will have what’s is described as an “increased focus” on digital programming. Leftfield launched a similar venture, Loud […]

Asian Netflix rival raises $30m

A new Southeast Asian SVOD service has raised US$30 million as it rolls out across the region. iflix, which claims to offer thousands of hours of entertainment content, secured the funding in a round led by international investment firm Catcha Group – which co-founded the initiative with Evolution Media Capital – and leading Philippines telecoms […]

Warner Bros. rebrands Eyeworks in Germany

Warner Bros. is rebranding Eyeworks Germany, with the latter’s COO exiting at the same time, according to a local report. Cologne-based Eyeworks Germany is dropping its current moniker, German TV site dwdl.de reports, and TBI understands it is likely to be known locally as Warner Bros. International Television Production Germany. Parallel to this, Eyeworks Germany […]

BBC Earth set for Indian launch

The commercial arm of the BBC is gearing up to launch premium international channel brand BBC Earth on Indian television. BBC Worldwide has formed a strategic partnership with Multi Screen Media to launch the factual network in India. BBC Earth is one of three premium brands BBCWW has been rolling out, the others being drama-focused […]

Channel 4 plans E4 election day shut-down

Channel 4 has announced plans to shut down its youth-skewing network E4 on May 7, the day of the UK general election, to encourage its viewers to “stop watching TV and get out and vote.” Channel 4 said that E4 will switch off its regular schedule, commercials and promos for the day, instead airing footage […]

MGM aims to become ‘powerhouse’ in unscripted

Buoyed by its recent deal with Mark Burnett that gave it The Apprentice and Survivor, MGM says it will become a ‘powerhouse’ in unscripted programming in the international market. The US studio is best known for its features, and more recently TV drama including Fargo, Vikings and Teen Wolf. However, it is now has some […]